Space and Beyond: Professional Voyage of K. Kasturirangan

Dr. B. N. Suresh is the Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram, and an honorary distinguished professor at ISRO, Bangalore. He was also the president of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE). After his degree in science and engineering from Mysore University, Dr. Suresh earned his post graduate degree from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. He has to his credit several contributions to engineering sciences, particularly in the area of aerospace, for design and development of different versions of launch vehicles. He has provided dynamic leadership for the successful launches of the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). His major contributions have been in the development of the inertial guidance system for all of the launch vehicles of ISRO, advanced launch vehicles (like GSLV MK-3), reusable launch vehicle technology demonstrators, and air-breathing propulsion. One of his significant achievements has been to define and implement the complex Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SCRE), involving the development of several new technologies and achieving successful flight tests. He is a fellow of several professional bodies, such as the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) in Delhi, Indian National Science Academy (INSA) in Delhi, member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), among others. Dr. Suresh has won several awards and honors such as the Padma Shree (2012) and Padma Bhushan (2013), the highest Indian civilian awards.