Indian Space Scientists Honored at COSPAR Assembly 2024

COSPAR Scientific Assembly 2024

• COSPAR Scientific Assembly held in Busan, South Korea from July 13-21, 2024
• 45th biannual meeting of the Committee on Space Research
• Platform for global space scientists to share knowledge and collaborate
• Typically attracts 2,000-3,000 scientists worldwide

Prahlad Chandra Agrawal: Harrie Massey Award Recipient

• Retired professor from the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai
• Honored with the Harrie Massey Award for outstanding contribution to space research
• Award recognizes leadership role in space research
• Special honor: A minor planet to be named after Professor Agrawal
• Expertise in X-ray astronomy

Key achievements:

a) Led ISRO's AstroSat programme, India's first multiwavelength astronomy satellite

b) AstroSat launched in 2015, cited in over 300 research papers

c) Contributed to Chandrayaan-1 mission, India's first lunar probe

Anil Bhardwaj: Vikram Sarabhai Medal Recipient

• Current director of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• Awarded the Vikram Sarabhai Medal for outstanding contribution to space research from a developing country
• Medal instituted by COSPAR in association with ISRO
• Specializes in planetary space sciences and solar system exploration
• Assumed directorship of PRL in 2017

Key involvement in ISRO's interplanetary missions:

a) Chandrayaan missions (lunar exploration)

b) Mangalyaan (Mars Orbiter Mission)

c) Aditya-L1 mission (solar observation)

Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)

• COSPAR established in 1958 following the launch of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957
• Set up by the International Council of Scientific Unions (now International Science Council)
• World's first scientific body dedicated to space science research
• Hosts scientific assembly every two years
• Headquarters: Paris, France
• Plays crucial role in recognizing excellence in space research globally