S. K. Shivakumar

Dr. S. K. Shivakumar
Dr. S. K. Shivakumar in 2015
Born1953 (1953)
Mysore, Mysore State, India
Died13 April 2019 (aged 66)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
NationalityIndian
EducationBSc, BE, MTech, PhD
Alma materMysore University
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Known forIndian Deep Space Network, Telemetery Tracking, Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayaan
AwardsPadma Shri (2015)
Nadoja Award (2013)
Karnataka Rajyotsava award (2008)
Scientific career
FieldsSpace Communications, Indian Deep Space Network, Telemetry
InstitutionsFormer director, ISAC
Former director, ISTRAC

Dr. S. K. Shivakumar (1953 – 13 April 2019) was an Indian Distinguished Scientist from Karnataka state who worked at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) centres. He was awarded the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015.

Early life and education

Shivakumar was born in 1953 in Mysore in Mysore State (now Karnataka), India. He earned a BSc from Mysore University followed by a BE in Electrical Communications Engineering and an MTech in Physical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. He received PhD in Electronics with his dissertation on “Autonomy Features in a Spacecraft” from Kuvempu University in 2014.[1][2]

Career

He joined the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and started his career at its ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Sriharikota in 1976. He later worked in its Indian Space Research Organisation Satellite Centre (ISAC) from 1978 to 1998.[2] He was the project director for the development of the 32-metre (105 ft) dish antenna of the Indian Deep Space Network which is used for telemetry for the missions such as the Chandrayaan-1, India's first lunar exploration mission and Mangalyaan, India's first interplanetary mission.[1][3][4]

He was involved in several satellite missions such as Bhaskara, Indian National Satellite System (INSAT), Ariane Passenger Payload Experiment (APPLE) and Indian Remote Sensing Programme (IRS). Shivakumar was the mission director of the IRS-1B and IRS-1C satellite missions.[2] He also served as the director of the ISTRAC between September 1998 and November 2010.[1][2] Shivakumar was later the associate director of the ISAC from November 2010 to June 2012 and Director of ISAC from July 2012 to March 2015 spearheaded the Manglayaan project.[1]

His biggest contribution to ISRO in his 40 years there has been that of setting up the Indian Deep Space Network .

As of 2019, he was serving as chairman of Karnataka Science and Technology Council.[5]

Awards

Death

He died on 13 April 2019 at the age of 66 in Bangalore and was cremated at the Banashankari Crematorium.[2][5] The cause of death was reported to be post-hepatic jaundice.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Dr. S K Shivakumar". www.isac.gov.in. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Former Isro scientist SK Shivakumar dies at 66". The Times of India. 14 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  3. ^ "The men behind the mission". NDTV. 22 October 2008. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  4. ^ "Dr. Shivakumar is ISAC's director". The Hindu. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Renowned ISRO Scientist Shivakumar Passes Away". United News of India. 13 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Padma Awards 2015". Press Information Bureau. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  7. ^ a b c "Space scientist and Padma-Shri awardee Dr SK Shivakumar passes away". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Rajyotsava awards for space scientists". Deccan Herald. 31 October 2008. Archived from the original on 3 November 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  9. ^ "Three Chosen for Nadoja Award". The Hindu. 17 December 2013. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.