Dr. Umamaheswaran R, born on May 20, 1963, completed his B-Tech in Electronics & Communication Engineering from College of Engineering, Trivandrum and Masters in Software System from BITS, Pilani and done his Ph.D in Electronics & Communication from National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli. He also holds a Master’s degree in Russian Language from Kerala University. He is a domain expert in in the field of launch vehicle system electrical integration, checkout, ground station, avionics, system engineering as well as in space policy planning.
Dr Umamaheswaran is with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for over a period of nearly 35 years. He has worked in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre of ISRO for 31 years in various capacities including the Project Director of GSLV from July, 2014 and Deputy Director of VSSC in Avionics entity from May, 2017. He was assigned to serve as Associate Scientific Secretary of ISRO at ISRO HQ, Bangalore from May to August 2018 and later elevated as Scientific Secretary, ISRO. He has assumed charge as Director of Human Space Flight Centre, Bangalore in 2022.
He has immensely contributed to ISRO’s international cooperation by serving as the co-chair of Joint Working Groups with many space agencies ROSCOSMOS (Russia) JAXA (Japan); ESA (Europe); NSSA (Bahrain); CRTS & CRERS (Morocco); ASAL (Algeria); CONAE (Argentina); MDAI (Kazakhstan); EgSA (Egypt). He also signed the Joint Declaration of Interest for Space Climate Observatory (SCO) at Paris in June 2019 on behalf of ISRO.
He represented India in UNCOPUOS meeting in June 2019 and led the ISRO delegation in APRSAF 2020. He has been elected as the Chair of Working Group on Long Term Sustainability of Space Activities in UNCOPUOS Scientific and Technical Subcommittee. As LTS chair, he is working with UN member countries for bringing out international guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities.
He is also currently Member of Board of Trustees of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) and member of IN-SPACe Board.
Dr. Umamaheswaran is a member of several international and national bodies of engineering and science, including Member for Section 2 on Engineering Sciences of IAA & Member of the Committee on Space Traffic Management of IAA. Fellow of Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) and Astronautical Society of India (ASI), Life Member of Systems Society of India (SSI) and Indian Society for Advancement of Materials and Process Engineering (ISAMPE). He was the National Vice President for Indian Society of Systems, Science and Engineering (ISSE) and President of ISSE Bangalore Chapter.
Dr. Umamaheswaran has won several awards including ISRO Individual Merit Award-2013 and ISRO Outstanding Achievement Award 2018. He also received the ASI-ISRO Award for the year 2016. He has received Dr. Biren Roy Space Science and Design Award from Aeronautical Society of India (2019).
