P. S. Veeraraghavan
Encyclopedia
Parivakkam Subramaniam Veeraraghavan (born on 24 December 1948) space scientist
and rocket
technologist. He is presently the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
(VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
, Kerala
. Prior to this, he served as the Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
(IISU), Thiruvananthapuram. One of the most senior scientists at Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Veeraraghavan is known for his contribution to launch vehicle technology, especially in the area of integration and checkout of ISROs launch vehicle
s. He is a recipient of the ASI Award of the Astronautical Society of India.
. After receiving his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
from College of Engineering, Guindy
in 1969, he joined the Master's Programme at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and received his M.Tech. degree in Electrical and Electronics Instrumentation in 1971. He started his career in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
, Indian Space Research Organisation
in 1971. His first assignment was as Engineer-in-Charge of Checkout System development in the SLV-3 (Satellite Launch Vehicle) Project under the leadership of former ISRO scientist & former President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He was responsible for the design and development of the Checkout system for the first SLV-3 Project. Shri Veeraraghavan has taken training in CNES, France, in Diamante Launching in 1971-72 and visited major space centres in Japan, U.S.A and France in 1984. At VSSC, he has been the Deputy Director, Mechanisms and Vehicle Integration and Testing (MVIT) and was responsible for integration, check-out and launch of ISRO Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicles (ASLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
s (GSLV), and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
s (PSLV).
In 2002, he took over as Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
(IISU) at Vattiyoorkavu
, Thiruvananthapuram
. At IISU he led the teams that developed sensor systems for launch vehicles and satellites. These inertial navigation systems guide the rockets in their trajectory, thus helping them to put the satellites in precise orbits. In 2009, Veeraraghavan took over as Director of VSSC from K. Radhakrishnan
who has been appointed Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation.lll
In 2002, he took over as Director, ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram. At IISU, he led the teams that developed sensor systems for launch vehicles and satellites. These inertial navigation systems guide the rockets and their trajectory to put the satellite in precise orbits. The performance of these inertial navigation systems has been at par with those of other space fairing nations like Europe and the United States of America with excellent orbit injection accuracy.
The inertial navigation systems supplied by IISU for PSLV-C11 / Chandrayaan-1, India's first mission to the moon, have given very good orbital accuracy and contributed to precise orbital manoeuvres and very accurate lunar injection. Under his able leadership, IISU has developed a number of advanced inertial sensors and systems and now achieved 100% self-reliance in the crucial technology of inertial sensors and systems.
In 2009, Shri Veeraraghavan took over as Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre - VSSC from Dr K Radhakrishnan, who has been appointed as Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation.
Joined Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in 1971 in the erstwhile SLV-3 Project, served in various capacities as per details given below prior to current posting as Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
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 ....
and rocket
Rocket engine
A rocket engine, or simply "rocket", is a jet engineRocket Propulsion Elements; 7th edition- chapter 1 that uses only propellant mass for forming its high speed propulsive jet. Rocket engines are reaction engines and obtain thrust in accordance with Newton's third law...
technologist. He is presently the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is a major space research centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation , focusing on rocket and space vehicles for India's satellite programme...
(VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. Prior to this, he served as the Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
The ISRO Inertial Systems Unit is a research and development unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation located in Thiruvananthapuram that specialises in inertial sensors and systems in satellite technology...
(IISU), Thiruvananthapuram. One of the most senior scientists at Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), Veeraraghavan is known for his contribution to launch vehicle technology, especially in the area of integration and checkout of ISROs launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
s. He is a recipient of the ASI Award of the Astronautical Society of India.
Education and career
Veeraraghavan studied in Gopalapuram Boys High School, ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. After receiving his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
from College of Engineering, Guindy
College of Engineering, Guindy
College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai, India, is India's oldest engineering and technical institution, having been established in 1794. Today it is one of the four constituent colleges of Anna University, Chennai....
in 1969, he joined the Master's Programme at the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras and received his M.Tech. degree in Electrical and Electronics Instrumentation in 1971. He started his career in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre is a major space research centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation , focusing on rocket and space vehicles for India's satellite programme...
, Indian Space Research Organisation
Indian Space Research Organisation
The Indian Space Research Organisation is an independent Indian governmental agency established in 1969 for the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space within and outside of Earth’s atmosphere. Headquartered in Bangalore...
in 1971. His first assignment was as Engineer-in-Charge of Checkout System development in the SLV-3 (Satellite Launch Vehicle) Project under the leadership of former ISRO scientist & former President of India, A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. He was responsible for the design and development of the Checkout system for the first SLV-3 Project. Shri Veeraraghavan has taken training in CNES, France, in Diamante Launching in 1971-72 and visited major space centres in Japan, U.S.A and France in 1984. At VSSC, he has been the Deputy Director, Mechanisms and Vehicle Integration and Testing (MVIT) and was responsible for integration, check-out and launch of ISRO Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicles (ASLV), Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is an expendable launch system operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation...
s (GSLV), and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle , commonly known by its abbreviation PSLV, is an expendable launch system developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation . It was developed to allow India to launch its Indian Remote Sensing satellites into sun synchronous orbits, a service that...
s (PSLV).
In 2002, he took over as Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
ISRO Inertial Systems Unit
The ISRO Inertial Systems Unit is a research and development unit of the Indian Space Research Organisation located in Thiruvananthapuram that specialises in inertial sensors and systems in satellite technology...
(IISU) at Vattiyoorkavu
Vattiyoorkavu
Vattiyoorkavu is located in the north-eastern side of Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India. River Killi flows through this area....
, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
. At IISU he led the teams that developed sensor systems for launch vehicles and satellites. These inertial navigation systems guide the rockets in their trajectory, thus helping them to put the satellites in precise orbits. In 2009, Veeraraghavan took over as Director of VSSC from K. Radhakrishnan
K. Radhakrishnan
K. Radhakrishnan may refer to:*K. Radhakrishnan , Indian space scientist*K. Radhakrishnan , Indian carrom player*K. Radhakrishnan , Chief engineer of Kerala State Electricity Board...
who has been appointed Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation.lll
Positions held
Shri Veeraraghavan has made pioneering contributions to ISRO's Launch Vehicle Programmes. As Deputy Director of VSSC - Mechanisms and Vehicle Integration Testing (MVIT) he was responsible for Assembly, Integration and Checkout of ISRO's launch vehicles, PSLV and GSLV till June, 2002.In 2002, he took over as Director, ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), Vattiyoorkavu, Thiruvananthapuram. At IISU, he led the teams that developed sensor systems for launch vehicles and satellites. These inertial navigation systems guide the rockets and their trajectory to put the satellite in precise orbits. The performance of these inertial navigation systems has been at par with those of other space fairing nations like Europe and the United States of America with excellent orbit injection accuracy.
The inertial navigation systems supplied by IISU for PSLV-C11 / Chandrayaan-1, India's first mission to the moon, have given very good orbital accuracy and contributed to precise orbital manoeuvres and very accurate lunar injection. Under his able leadership, IISU has developed a number of advanced inertial sensors and systems and now achieved 100% self-reliance in the crucial technology of inertial sensors and systems.
In 2009, Shri Veeraraghavan took over as Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre - VSSC from Dr K Radhakrishnan, who has been appointed as Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation.
Joined Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in 1971 in the erstwhile SLV-3 Project, served in various capacities as per details given below prior to current posting as Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
- Engineer-in-Charge, Checkout System Development, SLV-3 (1971–1982)
- Deputy Project Director, Electrical Integration and Checkout System (1982–1988)
- Head, Launch Vehicle Integration & Checkout Division, PSLV Project (1988–1993)
- Group Director, Launch Vehicle Integration & Checkout Group (1993–1999)
- Deputy Director, Mechanisms & Vehicle Integration, Testing, VSSC (1999–2002)
- Director, ISRO Inertial Systems Unit, IISU, Thiruvananthapuram (2002–2009)
- Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (November 2009 onwards)
Honors and awards
Veeraraghavan is a recipient of VASVIK Award (Electronics) in 1997. He is also the recipient of the ASI Award of Astronautical Society of India. The 2002 ASI award was in recognition of his contribution to rocket and related technologies. He has also received ISRO's Performance Excellence Award for 2007.Fellowships/Memberships
- Fellow, Aeronautical Society of India
- Member, Governing Council, Indian National Academy of EngineeringIndian National Academy of EngineeringThe Indian National Academy of Engineering was founded in 1987 with the aim of promoting and advancing the practice of engineering and technology in the country....
- Member, Astronautical Society of India
- Member, Indian National Society for Aerospace & Related Mechanisms