Former ISRO chief K Kasturirangan dies at 84, PM Modi pays tribute

Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan (K. Kasturirangan), former ISRO chairman, passed away in Bengaluru today, April 25. He was 84 years old. He was suffering from age related health issues.

According to ISRO website, Kasturirangan has steered the Indian Space programme gloriously for over nine years as chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, of Space Commission and Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Space, before laying down his office on August 27, 2003.

He was earlier the Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, where he oversaw the activities related to the development of new generation spacecraft, Indian National Satellite (INSAT-2) and Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS-1A & 1B) as well as scientific satellites.

Posting on X, PM Modi wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. K. Kasturirangan, a towering figure in India’s scientific and educational journey. His visionary leadership and selfless contribution to the nation will always be remembered.”

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. K. Kasturirangan, a towering figure in India’s scientific and educational journey. His visionary leadership and selfless contribution to the nation will always be remembered.

He served ISRO with great diligence, steering India’s space… pic.twitter.com/GPdFKPU7b5

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2025

“He served ISRO with great diligence, steering India’s space programme to new heights, for which we also received global recognition. His leadership also witnessed ambitious satellite launches and focused on innovation,” Modi added.

Under Kasturirangan’s leadership, as chairman, ISRO, the space programme has witnessed several major milestones including the successful launching and operationalisation of the India’s prestigious launch vehicle, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and more recently, the first successful flight testing of the all important Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).