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{{Short description|Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation}}
{{other people|Radhakrishnan|Radhakrishnan (name)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = K. Radhakrishnan
| image = K-Radhakrishnan-2014.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Radhakrishnan in 2014
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1949|08|29|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Irinjalakuda]], [[Travancore–Cochin|United State of Travancore and Cochin]], [[Dominion of India]]<br>(present day [[Thrissur district|Thrissur]], [[Kerala]], India)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| title = 7th [[Chairperson of ISRO|Chairman of ISRO]]
| term_start = {{Start date|2009|10|30|df=yes}}
| term_end = {{End date|2014|12|31|df=yes}}
| prime_minister1 = [[Manmohan Singh]]
| predecessor = [[G. Madhavan Nair]]
| successor = [[Shailesh Nayak]]
| module = {{Infobox scientist
| embed = yes
| field = [[Electrical Engineering]]<br />[[Space research]]
| work_institution = {{ubl|[[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]]|[[National Remote Sensing Agency]]|[[Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services]]|[[Indian Space Research Organisation]]|[[Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur]]}}
| alma_mater = {{ubl|[[Government Engineering College, Thrissur]] ([[B.E.|BE]])|[[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore|IIM Bangalore]] ([[MBA]])|[[IIT Kharagpur]] ([[PhD]])}}
| known_for = ''[[Chandrayaan-1]]'', ''[[Mars Orbiter Mission|Mangalyaan]]''
| awards = [[Padma Bhushan]] (2014)<ref name="hindu20140125">{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/list-of-padma-awardees/article5617946.ece |title=List of Padma awardees |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=25 January 2014 |access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref>
| footnotes =
}}
}}

'''Koppillil Radhakrishnan'''<ref name="toi_jan_14">{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Isro-IISc-men-get-top-national-honour/articleshow/29375165.cms |title=Isro, IISc men get top national honour |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=26 January 2014 |access-date=26 January 2014}}</ref> (born 29 August 1949) is an Indian space scientist who [[Chairperson of ISRO|headed]] [[ISRO]] as Chairman of [[Space Commission]], Secretary of the [[Department of Space]], [[Government of India]].<ref name="deccan20091025">{{cite news |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/32322/isro-gets-chairman.html |title=ISRO gets a new chairman |date=25 October 2009 |work=Deccan Herald |access-date=25 October 2009}}</ref><ref name="ptinews20091024">{{cite news |url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/346110_Dr-K-Radhakrishnan-made-ISRO-chief |title=Dr K Radhakrishnan made ISRO chief |date=24 October 2009 |publisher=[[Press Trust of India]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027014449/http://www.ptinews.com/news/346110_Dr-K-Radhakrishnan-made-ISRO-chief |archive-date=27 October 2009}}</ref><ref name="hindustan20141231">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/isro-chairman-radhakrishnan-retires-mom-tweets-farewell/article1-1302090.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231173009/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/isro-chairman-radhakrishnan-retires-mom-tweets-farewell/article1-1302090.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 December 2014 |title=ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan retires |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |date=31 December 2014 |access-date=31 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/dr-k-radhakrishnan-2009-2014 |title=Dr. K. Radhakrishnan (2009-2014) |publisher=[[Indian Space Research Organisation]] |access-date=2018-06-05 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143222/https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/dr-k-radhakrishnan-2009-2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Under his leadership, [[India]] became the [[Mars Orbiter Mission|first country to reach Mars in its first attempt.]]<ref>{{Citation |title=Citation Needed |date= |url= |work=Retcon Game |access-date= |publisher=University Press of Mississippi}}</ref>

==Education and personal life==
Koppillil Radhakrishnan hails from [[Irinjalakuda]] in [[Thrissur district]], Kerala from a [[Malayali]] [[Nair]] family. After his schooling at the National High School, [[Irinjalakuda]], he did two-year Pre-degree studies (Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry) at [[Christ College, Irinjalakuda]]. He studied Electrical Engineering at the [[Government Engineering College, Thrissur]] and acquired [[Bachelor of Engineering|BSc (Engg.)]] degree in First Class with Honours from [[University of Kerala|Kerala University]] in 1970. He did post-graduate studies in management at [[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore]] in 1974–76. He obtained doctorate from the [[Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur]], in 2000, for the thesis: 'Some Strategies for the Management of Indian Earth Observation System'.<ref name=":0" />

Radhakrishnan married Padmini Kizhakke Valappil from Irinjalakuda in 1983. Padmini worked with [[State Bank of Travancore]] from 1980 to 2010.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |url=https://penguin.co.in/book/non-fiction/my-odyssey/ |title=My Odyssey |work=Penguin India |access-date=2018-06-05 |language=en-US |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141040/https://penguin.co.in/book/non-fiction/my-odyssey/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Indian Space Research Organisation==
Radhakrishnan joined ISRO in May 1971 at the Space Science & Technology Centre at Thiruvananthapuram (the present [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]]) as a design and development engineer of electro-mechanical devices. Later he worked on system planning and technology management for avionics systems of [[Satellite Launch Vehicle|SLV-3]], [[Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle|ASLV]] and [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle|PSLV]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WxtwDQAAQBAJ|title=My Odyssey: Memoirs of the Man behind the Mangalyaan Mission|last=Radhakrishnan|first=K.|date=2016-11-23|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=9789385990380|language=en}}</ref> During 1981–97, at the ISRO Headquarters, he oversaw the preparation and review of annual budgets of ISRO, formulation of decade profile and Five Year Plans for Indian Space programme and the related techno-economic analysis.<ref name=":4" />

=== Remote Sensing Applications. ===
As Project Director, he set up a chain of regional remote sensing service centres (RRSSC) at Bangalore, Nagpur, Kharagpur, Jodhpur and Dehradun for capacity building in central and state government agencies.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}} While he was the director, RRSSCs came to prominence in the national remote sensing application missions including the Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development (IMSD) aimed at generation of spatial database of natural resources and action plans for sustainable development of land and water resources.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

Later, Radhakrishnan succeeded as the mission director of IMSD and moved to National Remote Sensing Agency in Hyderabad. IMSD was considered as largest remote sensing application experiment ever done in the world using a meticulous participatory approach.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crida.in/DRM2-Winter%20School/VVR.pdf|title=RS&GIS Applications in Planning and Conservation of Resources in Rainfed Watersheds}}</ref> As the director of [[National Remote Sensing Agency]], he scripted India's modern multi-mission ground station for Earth Observation Satellites.{{citation needed|date= September 2022}}

=== Space Transportation System and Chandrayaan-1 Mission ===
While at [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]] as its director, he oversaw five successful launches of [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle|PSLV]] including development of its high-end version [[PSLV-XL|PSLV –XL]] that lofted [[Chandrayaan-1]] in October 2008 as well as formulation of [[Indian human spaceflight programme|Indian Human Spaceflight programme]].<ref name=":4" />

=== Chief of India's Space Programme ===
As India's space chief from November 2009 to December 2014, Radhakrishnan led ISRO to achieve 37 space missions including several historic feats including Mars Orbiter Mission; flying Indian Cryogenic Engine on GSLV; the first experimental flight of the [[GSLV Mk III]];<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/indias-space-odyssey-isro-creates-history-in-2014/|title=India's space odyssey: ISRO creates history in 2014|date=2014-12-27|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref> a re-entry experiment of an uncrewed crew module;<ref name=":3" /> and new space capabilities through [[Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System|IRNSS]] ([[IRNSS-1A|1A]], [[IRNSS-1B|1B]], [[IRNSS-1C|1C]]) for navigation; [[GSAT-7]] for strategic communication; and [[RISAT-1]] for microwave radar imaging.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/isros-timeline-1960s-to-today|title=ISRO's Timeline from 1960s to Today |publisher=[[Indian Space Research Organisation]]|access-date=2018-06-05|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927082200/https://www.isro.gov.in/about-isro/isros-timeline-1960s-to-today|url-status=dead}}</ref> ISRO completed two joint satellite missions ([[Megha-Tropiques|Megha Tropiques]] and [[SARAL]]) with the [[CNES|French National Space Agency]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://presse.cnes.fr/en/france-india-space-cooperation-four-more-years-emblematic-megha-tropiques-climate-space-mission|title=France-India space cooperation - Four more years for emblematic Megha-Tropiques climate space mission|website=presse.cnes.fr|date=7 October 2016|language=en|access-date=2018-11-13}}</ref> and inked another agreement with [[NASA]] to jointly build an advanced Radar Imaging Satellite.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29439256|title=US and India sign space agreement|date=2014-10-01|work=BBC News|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref> India's standing in the global space market was enhanced as PSLV launched 18 commercial satellites for 11 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.antrix.co.in/business/international-customer-satellites-launched|title=International Customer Satellites Launched|publisher=Antrix Corporation|access-date=2018-06-05}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Through an inclusive organisational process, Radhakrishnan charted out clear programmatic directions and nurtured younger generation of leaders for carrying forward the legacy of ISRO.<ref name=":0" /> Re-defining the ''[[Chandrayaan-2]]'' mission with Indigenous lander and rover<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/k-radhakrishnan-interview-success-due-to-tireless-efforts-of-isro/story-Uz4BU6xpPeU8kHmTUamBlO.html|title=K Radhakrishnan interview: Success due to tireless efforts of Isro|date=2014-09-24|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref> and extending the application of space technologies and tools to all central ministries are highlights of his leadership regime at ISRO.<ref name=":0" /> He worked to enhance the partnership with the Indian space industry for the production of operational launchers and satellites.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/isro-gives-farewell-to-its-man-of-steel-k-radhakrishnan-114123100705_1.html|title=Isro gives farewell to its 'Man of Steel' K Radhakrishnan|last=Narasimhan|first=T. E.|date=2014-12-31|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref>

During his leadership, ISRO received the 2014 [[Gandhi Peace Prize]]; the 2014 [[Indira Gandhi Prize]] for Peace, Disarmament and Development; the 2014 Knowledge Economy Network KEN Award; the 2014 CNN-IBN Indian of the Year-Lifetime Achievement Award; the 2014 Global Game Changer Award by the Marico Innovation Foundation; and the 2013 CNBC-18 India Business Leader Award-BRAND INDIA.<ref name=":0" />

==== Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) ====
[[Mars Orbiter Mission]] (MOM; aka ''Mangalyaan'') was conceived, planned and executed, within four years (2010–2014), establishing India as the first country to have successful mission to Mars in its maiden attempt,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140924/technology-science-and-trends/article/india%E2%80%99s-low-cost-mars-mission-successful-first-attempt |title=India becomes first country in world to place spacecraft in Mars' orbit in first attempt |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |date=2014-09-24 |access-date=2018-06-05 |language=en}}</ref> and at significantly low cost (INR 4.5 billion).<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-29341850 |title=Why India's Mars mission is so cheap - and thrilling |work=BBC News |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |date=2014-09-24 |access-date=2018-06-05}}</ref>

==== [[Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle]] and Indian Cryogenic Stage ====
GSLV had a checkered history in its initial flights of 2001-2007 and they were powered by cryogenic upper stage of Russia. After failure of the Indian Cryogenic upper stage on GSLV in April 2010 (GSLV-D3) and recurrence one more failure of GSLV with Russian Cryogeinc upper stage (GSLV-F06) in December 2010, Radhakrishnan steered ISRO towards the landmark success in January 2014 GSLV-D5. This marked the beginning of the successful series of GSLV with Indian Cryogenic Upper Stage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gslv-rocket-billed-naughty-boy-by-scientists-is-now-adorable-1456610|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211150611/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gslv-rocket-billed-naughty-boy-by-scientists-is-now-adorable-1456610|url-status=dead|archive-date=2018-02-11|title=GSLV Rocket, Billed 'Naughty Boy' By Scientists, Is Now 'Adorable'|date=2018-02-11|access-date=2018-11-13}}</ref>

== Ocean Observation and Information Services ==
Radhakrishnan had a stint of five years the Ministry of Earth Sciences to set up, [[Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services]] (INCOIS). In the aftermath of the [[Indian Ocean Tsunami]] disaster of December 2004, he emerged as the Project Director to set up the [[Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System|Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning]] Centre.<ref name=":4" />

== Kathakali and Carnatic Music ==
[[File:K. Radhakrishnan (1987) Enacting the role of King Daksha.jpg|alt=|thumb|K. Radhakrishnan (1987) Enacting the role of King Daksha, who is annoyed at Siva for taking away his daughter Sati in marriage.]]
[[File:-Radhakrishnan singing at Guruvayoor Chembai Sangetholsavam 2018.jpg|alt=Radhakrishnan singing at Guruvayoor Chembai Sangetholsavam 2018|thumb|Radhakrishnan singing at Guruvayoor Chembai Sangetholsavam 2018]]
Radhakrishnan is a [[Carnatic music]] and [[Kathakali]] enthusiast and performer.<ref name="indiatoday20091025">{{cite news|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/web-exclusive/story/new-isro-chief-a-noted-kathakali-dancer-59234-2009-10-24|title=New ISRO chief a noted Kathakali dancer|last=Radhakrishnan|first=M. G.|date=25 October 2009|work=[[India Today]]}}</ref><ref name="newindia20110902">{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article357301.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008115409/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/article357301.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 October 2014|title=ISRO chief sings a different note|date=2 September 2011|work=The New Indian Express|access-date=2 September 2011}}</ref> Radhakrishnan was drawn into the world of performing arts from childhood. After formal training in [[Kerala Natanam]], under Professor Thrippunithura Vijayabhanu, he had training in [[Kathakali]] dance under Guru Pallippuram Gopalan Nair, Kalanilayam Raghavan and Shri T.V.A Varier. Also, he was trained in [[Carnatic music]] by eminent musicians like Prof. Vechoor Harihara Subramania Iyer, Dr. [[R. K. Srikantan|R.K. Srikantan]], Dr. [[Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana]]; currently he is student of Vidwan R.S. Ramakanth. Dr. Radhakrishnan has performed at Bengaluru Sangeethotsav, Sankranthi Music Festival of RK Srikantan Trust, Swaralaya, Bangalore Centre for Kathakali and Arts, JSS Sangeetha Sabha, Chembai Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar Music Festival at Chennai. He has been singing at the Guruvayoor Chembai Sangeetholsavam every year since 2008.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.frontline.in/arts-and-culture/scientist-as-an-artist/article6954702.ece|title=Scientist as an artist|work=Frontline|access-date=2018-11-13|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/space-scientist-regales-connoisseurs-of-music/article7947774.ece|title=Space scientist regales connoisseurs of music|last=Kumar|first=R. Krishna|date=2015-12-04|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-11-13|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

==Major Awards and honours==
*2003: K.R. Ramanathan Memorial Gold Medal of Indian Geophysical Union
*2005: VASVIK Industrial Research Award
*2006: Silver Jubilee Honour by Ministry of Earth Sciences
*2008: BHASKARA Award of Indian Society of Remote Sensing
*2008: Dr. Y. Nayudamma Memorial Award of the A.P Academy of Sciences
*2009: Social Sciences Award of the International Academy of Astronautics
*2010: Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Award of Indian Science Congress
*2010: Distinguished Alumnus Award of IIT, Kharagpur
*2010: Distinguished Alumnus Award of IIM, Bangalore
*2014: ISRO's Lifetime Achievement Award
*2014: The Allan D. Emil Award of International Astronautical Federation
*2014: Ernst & Young Lifetime Achievement Award
*2014: Technovation-Sarabhai Award of Indian Electronics & Semiconductor Association
*2014: Radhakrishnan received the [[Padma Bhushan]] Award for contribution to Science and Engineering, especially in the field of Space Science and Technology.<ref name=toi_jan_14 />
*2014: Named one of [[Nature (journal)|''Nature''{{'s}}]] ten "people who mattered" of 2014 on 18 December 2014, along with [[Radhika Nagpal]], and others.<ref name="nature20141218">{{cite journal |title=365 days: Nature's 10 |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |first1=Elizabeth |last1=Gibney |first2=Heidi |last2=Ledford |first3=Corie |last3=Lok |first4=Erika Check |last4=Hayden |first5=Ron |last5=Cowen |first6=Erica |last6=Klarreich |first7=Sara |last7=Reardon |first8=T. V. |last8=Padma |first9=David |last9=Cyranoski |first10=Ewen |last10=Callaway |display-authors=1 |volume=516 |issue=7531 |pages=311–319 |date=18 December 2014 |doi=10.1038/516311a |pmid=25519114 |bibcode=2014Natur.516..311.|doi-access=free }}</ref>
*2015: Lifetime Achievent Award of Union Bank of India
*2015: Lifetime Outstanding Innovation Award Indore Management Association
*2015: Bharat Asmita Vigyan Tantragyaan Shreshta
*2015: P.C. Chandra Purashkar for Lifetime Achievement
*2016: [[Asian Scientist 100]], ''[[Asian Scientist]]''
*2016: Lifetime Achievement Award, Engineers' Forum, Nagpur
*2017: Global Indian (Science) Award of Times Network
*2018: Qimpro Platinum Standard 2018 (Business)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.qimpro.org/awards|title=Qimpro Foundation – Qimpro Awards|website=www.qimpro.org|language=en|access-date=2018-07-30}}</ref>

He has been conferred a doctorate by IIT Kharagpur<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Radhakrishnan Koppillil |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/radhakrishnan-koppillil-892985b8/ |work=LinkedIn}}</ref> and honorary doctorates by 12 Indian universities {{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|K. Radhakrishnan}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=[[G. Madhavan Nair]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation]]|years=2009–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Shailesh Nayak]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[B. N. Suresh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Director, [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]]|years=2007–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[P. S. Veeraraghavan]]}}
{{end}}

{{Indian space programme}}
{{Scientific Research in Kerala}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2010–19}}
{{Padma Award winners of Kerala}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Radhakrishnan, K.}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malayali people]]
[[Category:Scientists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Kathakali dancers]]
[[Category:People from Irinjalakuda]]
[[Category:Indian aerospace engineers]]
[[Category:ISRO people]]
[[Category:IIT Kharagpur alumni]]
[[Category:Indian Institute of Management Bangalore alumni]]
[[Category:Government Engineering College, Thrissur, alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in science & engineering]]
[[Category:Engineers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Dancers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian male dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian engineers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian engineers]]

Koppillil Radhakrishnan - Revision history

Alejandra13P at 05:51, 2 May 2026