Google celebrates Satellite Man of India Udupi Ramachandra Rao

The Google doodle, features a sketch of Professor Rao, with a background of the Earth and shooting stars, while exclaiming, “Your stellar technological advancements continue to be felt across the galaxy."

Born in a remote village of Karnataka on this day in 1932, Prof Rao began his career as a cosmic-ray physicist and protege of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, a scientist widely regarded as the father of India’s space program.

After completing his doctorate, Prof. Rao brought his talents to the USA, where he worked as a professor and conducted experiments on NASA’s Pioneer and Explorer space probes,' the Google Doodle's description on the website stated.

On his return to India in 1966, Prof. Rao, initiated an extensive high-energy astronomy program at the Physical Research Laboratory, an institution for space sciences, before spearheading his country’s satellite program in 1972.

From 1984 to 1994, Prof. Rao continued to propel his nation’s space program to stratospheric heights as the chairman of India’s Space Research Organization.

Rao became the first Indian inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year that PSLV launched India’s first interplanetary mission "Mangalyaan", a satellite that orbits Mars, today.

Rao passed away in the year in 2017.