K.N.Shankara
Encyclopedia
Koodli Nanjunda Ghanapathi Shankara is a space scientist
from India. He was the Director of ISRO's Space Applications Centre
(SAC), Ahmedabad
and ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore
and presently working as a senior scientist in ISAC. He was the Director of Satellite Communications Program Office and Program Director, INSAT, and was looking after overall planning and direction of communication satellite program. His work in the field of Design and Development of Transponders led to a boon in India's Communication Satellite Technology.
For his astounding contribution in the field of Satellite Technology, he was awarded Padma Shri
by the government of India in 2004. He is said to be the person who conceptualized Chandrayaan
, India's first venture to Moon.
He has also served as Honorary Professor at the Gujarat University and has large number of publications in national and international journals.
Shankara moved to ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore in 1996 as Deputy Director, Electronics Systems Area, to direct technical activities on spacecraft electronics like, spacecraft power systems, telemetry, telecommand and data handling, communication systems, assembly, integration and checkout of spacecraft. In 2001, he took over as Director, Satellite Communications Programme and Programme Director, INSAT at ISRO Headquarters, Bangalore, in which capacity, he was involved in the overall planning and direction of the communication satellite programme of ISRO.
In 2002, he became the Director of Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad and will remain at that post till 2005. He then became the Director of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) and remain at the post since May 2008. He is presently working as a scientist in ISAC.
In 2004 he was awarded Padma Shri for his contribution in the field of Space Technology.
Space science
The term space science may mean:* The study of issues specifically related to space travel and space exploration, including space medicine.* Science performed in outer space ....
from India. He was the Director of ISRO's Space Applications Centre
Space Applications Centre
The Space Applications Centre is an institution of research in Ahmedabad, India under the aegis of the Indian Space Research Organization...
(SAC), Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
and ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
and presently working as a senior scientist in ISAC. He was the Director of Satellite Communications Program Office and Program Director, INSAT, and was looking after overall planning and direction of communication satellite program. His work in the field of Design and Development of Transponders led to a boon in India's Communication Satellite Technology.
For his astounding contribution in the field of Satellite Technology, he was awarded Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
by the government of India in 2004. He is said to be the person who conceptualized Chandrayaan
Chandrayaan
Chandrayaan-1 was India's first unmanned lunar probe. It was launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation in October 2008, and operated until August 2009. The mission included a lunar orbiter and an impactor...
, India's first venture to Moon.
Early life
Shankara was born on May 7, 1945. He did his Post-graduation in Physics and received his Doctorate in Electrical Communication Engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in 1972.Career
Shankara joined Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad in 1971 to work on the design and development of communication payloads. As Associate Project Director of INSAT- 2A and INSAT - 2B, he was responsible for the development transponders for these satellites. As Group Director at SAC until 1996, he has contributed extensively to orgainze the work in the area of microwave technology and spacecraft electronics.He has also served as Honorary Professor at the Gujarat University and has large number of publications in national and international journals.
Shankara moved to ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore in 1996 as Deputy Director, Electronics Systems Area, to direct technical activities on spacecraft electronics like, spacecraft power systems, telemetry, telecommand and data handling, communication systems, assembly, integration and checkout of spacecraft. In 2001, he took over as Director, Satellite Communications Programme and Programme Director, INSAT at ISRO Headquarters, Bangalore, in which capacity, he was involved in the overall planning and direction of the communication satellite programme of ISRO.
In 2002, he became the Director of Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad and will remain at that post till 2005. He then became the Director of ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) and remain at the post since May 2008. He is presently working as a scientist in ISAC.
Awards
Dr. Shankara is the recipient of the IETE-IRS (83) award for the year 1995-96 and was also awarded “Om Prakash Bhasin” award for “Space and Aerospace” for the year 1998 and “Ramlal Wadwa Gold Medal” for “Outstanding contribution in Electronics” during the year 2000 by the IETE. He Received Astronautical Society of India award for “Space System Management” for the year 2000 and “VASVIK award” for the year 2001 for contribution in “Electrical & Electronics and Science & Technology”. He has also been awarded Appreciation Award from National Biomedical Engineering Society of India.In 2004 he was awarded Padma Shri for his contribution in the field of Space Technology.
External links
- K. N. Knsankara at Space Applications CentreSpace Applications CentreThe Space Applications Centre is an institution of research in Ahmedabad, India under the aegis of the Indian Space Research Organization...