Noted scientist MV Dhekane has assumed the office of Director, ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), Department of Space. Dhekane, who is the seventh director of IISU, took charge on July 1. A B-Tech graduate in electrical engineering and M-tech (Systems and Control) from Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, he had joined Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in 1983.

Dhekane has wide experience and expertise in the launch vehicle control and guidance design, onboard software development and mission design and analysis. He had also held various significant positions in ISRO such as Deputy Director, Control, Guidance & Simulation Entity, VSSC, Chief Controller, VSSC and Associate Director (R&D), VSSC.

Did You Know?

• ISRO was formed on Independence day, 1969 by Dr.Vikram Sarabhai.
• SLV-3 was India’s first indigenous satellite launch vehicle and A.P.J. Abdum Kalam Ji was the director of the project.
• ISRO developed Bhuvan, a web-based 3D satellite imagery tool which is the Indian incarnation of Google Earth.
• Antrix, the corporate arm of ISRO, deals with the commercialization of space products, consultancy and technology transfer developed by the ISRO. It has clientele worldwide – Europe, Middle East and SE Asia.
• ISRO’s Mars mission is the cheapest so far, just 450 crore i.e Rs 12 per km, equivalent to Auto fare. INDIA (ISRO) is the only one country who has reached to the MARS in his FIRST attempt!