Space and Beyond (Paperback)

This book discusses the journey of Dr. K Kasturirangan, who shares his experience during his long tenure at ISRO including the Chairmanship of ISRO, subsequently membership of the Rajya Sabha, the Planning Commission and many other responsibilities. Over the past five decades of public and professional service to the nation, Dr. Kasturirangan has graduated from a young researcher in astrophysics working under Vikram Sarabhai to leading India’s space program (ISRO), being entrusted by five successive Prime Ministers, besides dealing with several other domains of responsibilities beyond space, all of which have significantly impacted India’s development.

This book centers around select 12 public invited lectures, Dr. Kasturirangan delivered ranging from developing hi-tech space systems, to managing an organization as intricate as ISRO which was guided by the wisdom of mentors, including Vikram Sarabhai, M G K Menon, Satish Dhawan and U. R. Rao, to tackling multi-faceted socio-economic issues, including India’s nuclear deal, report headed by him on the Western Ghats ecosystem, and the new National Education Policy 2020.

Scientists, historians, policy makers, management strategists, journalists, or anyone with a keen interest in understanding the processes behind such large-scale science, technology and socio-economic endeavors – right from planning, creating appropriate institutional mechanisms, working with multiple stakeholders to ensure that these programs deliver tangible benefits to society, articulating these benefits with clarity to political leaders to assure public support – will find this book deeply instructive and illuminating. It will be of interest to the scientific, education and management community as well as to policy makers and researchers affiliated with multifaceted developmental issues.  

About Dr K Kasturirangan

Dr Kasturirangan presently is the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune; Chancellor of the Central University of Rajasthan; Member of the Atomic Energy Commission of India; Emeritus Professor at National Institute for Advanced Studies (NIAS) in Bangalore; and Honorary Distinguished Advisor of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).  He completed his bachelor  with honours and master degrees in physics from Bombay University and his doctorate working at the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. He served in several capacities at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for a period of nearly 35 years, including  ten years as its Chairman from 1994–2003.  He was a Member of the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha (2003–2009).  Later on, he was a Member of the Indian Planning Commission (2009–2014). He  was also  the Chairman of the National level Committee on the new National Education Policy (NEP) (2017–  2018).  He is a Member of several international and national science academies, including being a fellow of all four major science and engineering academies of India. He is a Member of the International Astronomical Union, Fellow of The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), Honorary Fellow of Cardiff University in the United Kingdom, and an Academician of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences in the Vatican City. He is the only Indian to be conferred an Honorary Membership of the International Academy of Astronautics.  He has won several awards, and to name a few,   Allan D. Emil Memorial Award of the International Astronautical Federation (2004), Lifetime Achievement Award of Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council in Singapore (2005), Theodore Von Karman Award from the International Academy of Astronautics (2007), Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award in Engineering (1981), Aryabhata Medal by Indian National Science Academy (2000),   Lifetime Achievement Award of ISRO (2008), Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Gold Medal (2009) of Indian Science Congress.    He has also been conferred honorary doctorates from 26 universities and research institutions. He is the recipient of many civilian awards like Rajyotsava Prashasthi (2014)   by government of Karnataka, the highest civilian honours Padma Shri (1982), Padma Bhushan (1992), and Padma Vibhushan (2000) by the President of India and the award of ‘Officer of the Legion d’honneur’ (2002) by the President of the French Republic.

About Dr. BN Suresh : The Editor

Dr. B. N. Suresh is the Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram. He was actively involved in the  development of different versions of launch vehicles  like  Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, ISRO.   One of his significant achievements has been to define and implement and have a successful flight of  complex Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE).    He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including  the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), Indian National Science Academy (INSA) and member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). He has won several awards and honours which include the Rajyotsava award (2014)   by Government of Karnataka,    Lifetime Achievement Award of ISRO, Government of India (2014), Padma Shree (2012) and Padma Bhushan (2013), the highest Indian civilian awards by the President of India.