Editorial: Kasturirangan, who helped ISRO lift off

Kasturirangan had a pivotal role to play in the transformation of ISRO into a formidable space exploration agency competing with the best in the world

When the story of India’s space journey is written, Dr K Kasturirangan would occupy a prominent place in it for his stellar contributions. The passing of Kasturirangan marks the end of an era in Indian space science. The nation has lost a visionary scientist, institution builder, and a tireless champion of the country’s space ambitions. He was the brain behind India’s leap from modest remote sensing applications to the threshold of interplanetary exploration. He devoted his life to expanding the boundaries of national capability and human understanding. Kasturirangan was at the helm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from 1994 to 2003, a critical time when the space programme was maturing and needed a clear direction, vision, and global credibility. Under his stewardship, ISRO launched the Indian National Satellite (INSAT) and Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) systems into a new orbit. He oversaw the launches of more than 25 satellites that powered India’s communications, meteorology, resource mapping and disaster management efforts. These were not just technological feats but were national imperatives that touched millions of lives. Kasturirangan had a pivotal role to play in the transformation of ISRO into a formidable space exploration agency competing with the best in the world. It was during his leadership of the organisation that the Moon mission was conceived, and the possibility of human spaceflight was discussed. His advocacy for the indigenous development of launch vehicles like the PSLV not only ensured technological self-reliance but also placed India in an elite group of spacefaring nations.

A former Rajya Sabha MP and a member of the Planning Commission, Kasturirangan’s contributions went beyond the launchpads and laboratories. After retiring from ISRO, he turned his attention to national development and education. His most lasting impact outside ISRO came as chairman of the committee that drafted India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Not surprisingly, the NEP document had his trademark emphasis on scientific temper, research and holistic learning. He brought to every role an air of quiet authority and sharp intellect. Unlike many technocrats who lose themselves in the echo chambers of their expertise, he was deeply rooted in the Indian ethos. His education at the University of Mumbai and later work at ISRO’s Space Science and Technology Centre kept him grounded in the unique challenges of Indian science, where budgets were modest, expectations high, and outcomes had to be people-centric. The visionary scientist was a recipient of Padma Vibhushan — not merely for his achievements in science, but also for his unmatched ability to translate science into statecraft. In a world now obsessed with private space startups and flashy billionaire-led missions, it is worth remembering that much of India’s credibility in space began with quiet, tireless public servants like Kasturirangan. He will always be remembered for taking the space agency to the uncharted territory of interplanetary missions, without compromising its core tasks related to economic development.

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