Mayalaswamy Annadurai is an Indian scientist currently serving as the Vice-Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Council of Science and Technology (TNSCST), Chairman of the National Design and Research Forum (NDRF). Prior to this, he served as the Director of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) at the ISRO Satellite Center (ISAC), Bangalore. He devoted 36 years of his life to ISRO and is credited as the Project Manager of Mangalyaan, Chandrayaan-1 and Chandrayaan-2. He is specially known as the Moon Man of India.
Annadurai is an influential columnist, some of whose notable columns include SP Adithanar Literary Award winner “Kairuke Neela” (2013), Tamil Weekly, Kungumam and Manavai Mustafa Memorial Science Award winner “Vinnam Mannam” (2021). He is also mentioned in the 10th class textbook of the Tamil Nadu Board of Secondary Education.
Contents
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 6″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Wiki/Biography
Mayalaswamy Annadurai was born on Wednesday, 2 July 1958 (age 65 years, as in 2023) in a village called Kothawadi, Tamil Nadu, India. His zodiac sign is Cancer. He received his primary education at Kothavadi Panchayat Union School and completed high school in Kinathikadavu, Tamil Nadu. In 1980, he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Communications) degree from the Government College of Technology, Tamil Nadu, India. In 1982, he earned a master’s degree in engineering from PSG College of Technology and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India.
PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, his alma mater where he completed his master’s degree in engineering in 1982.
He obtained his PhD degree from Anna University Regional Campus, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in the same year.
After my studies, like most others, I started looking for government jobs, applied for ISRO and Department of Atomic Energy. To my surprise, I got interview calls from both the places on the same day. I chose ISRO because it was close to home.
In the same year, he joined the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), where he served as the Spacecraft Operations Manager for the IRS (Indian Remote Sensing)-1A, IRS-1B, INSAT (Indian National Satellite System)-2A, and INSAT-2B satellite programmes. He was appointed as the Deputy Project Director of INSAT-2C, INSAT-2D, 2E, 3B, 3E and GSAT (Geosynchronous Satellite)-1 programs before being promoted as Mission Director.
Annadurai has been appointed as the Director at ISRO Satellite Center (ISAC), Bengaluru
From 2015 to 2018, as director of the ISRO Satellite Centre, Annadurai was in charge of developing, launching and operating 30 satellites. In 2019, he was appointed as the Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Tamil Nadu State Council of Science and Technology and Board of Governors, National Design and Research Forum (NDRF), respectively. He is effectively discharging his duties in both the posts and has been instrumental in the integration of science and technology beyond the academic level.
Family
parents and siblings
His father, A. Mayalaswamy, was a primary school teacher. His mother’s name is M. Balasaraswati. He has five younger siblings.
wife and kids
Annadurai is married to Vasanthi and they have a son named Gokul.
livelihood
Mayalaswamy Annadurai joined ISRO in 1982. Later, between 1985 and 1988, he held the position of team leader for developing the S/W satellite simulator. Thereafter his career progressed with transfers in various positions.
- 1988–1992: Spacecraft Operations Manager, IRS-1A
- 1992-1996: Spacecraft Operations Manager, INSAT-2A
- 1993-1996: Spacecraft Operations Manager, INSAT-2B
- 1994-1996: Deputy Project Director, INSAT-2C
- 1996-2001: Mission Director, INSAT-2C
- 1997-1998: Mission Director, INSAT-2D
- 1999-2012: Mission Director, INSAT-2E
- 2000-2010: Mission Director, INSAT-3B
- 2001-2002: Mission Director, GSAT-1
- 2003-2011: Mission Director, INSAT-3E
- 2003-2005: Associate Project Director, EDUSAT
- 2004-2009: Project Director, Chandrayaan-1
- 2008-2013: Project Director, Chandrayaan-2
- 2011-2015: Program Director, Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) and Small, Science and Student Satellites (SSS)
- 2015-2018: Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore
- 2019–present: Vice-Chairman, Tamil Nadu State Council of Science and Technology
- 2019–present: Chairman, Board of Governors, National Research and Design Forum
India’s lunar mission
Chandrayaan 1 and Chandrayaan 2
Illustration of Chandrayaan 1 and Chandrayaan 2
Chandrayaan 1, India’s first mission to the Moon, which was launched by the national space agency ISRO, raised India’s status among Asian countries that explored the Moon, including China and Japan. The unmanned lunar mission was launched on 22 October 2008 at 06:22 IST (00:52 UTC) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Chandrayaan 1 was successfully placed in the lunar orbit on 8 November 2008.
As Swami Vivekananda says, no matter how great you do, first others will ignore us, then they will laugh at us, oppose us and finally they will recognize us. Either way, Indian scientists are inspired to work for the progress of our country.
highlight
- Launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota: 22 October 2008
- Successful launch into lunar orbit: 8 November 2008
- 2004–2008: Annadurai successfully led his team in transporting instruments from NASA, ESA and Bulgaria for mapping the lunar surface at high spatial and spectral resolution. It was one of ISRO’s ambitious projects that established it as the world leader in space research.
- Chandrayaan 1 won various awards at national and international platforms including the prestigious Space Pioneers Award for Science and Engineering in 2009.
chandrayaan 2 tragedy
- Chandrayaan 2 was launched on 22 July 2029 to study the composition of the Moon’s surface and the location of water on the Moon.
- Chandrayaan 2 consisted of a lunar orbiter, a lander and the Pragyan rover.
- It was launched on 22 July 2019 at 14:43:12 IST (09:13:12 UTC). However, due to a technical glitch in the software, the lander and rover crashed on the lunar surface.
Accept failure as a part of the game and take responsibility. However, seek lessons from failure, so that they are true
directed to future missions.”
India’s first mission to Mars: Mangalyaan
PSLV C25 lifted off from the first launch pad with ISRO’s Mars Orbiter Mission on 5 November 2013
Mangalyaan or the Mars Orbiter Mission was launched on 5 November 2013 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It successfully reached Mars on 24 September 2014. This achievement made India the first Asian country to reach Mars orbit and the first country to do so in its very first attempt. The ‘MOM’ team (Mars Orbiter Mission) was awarded the Space Pioneer Award in 2015.
The objective of Mangalyaan was to study the surface features, morphology, mineralogy and atmosphere of Mars to understand the climate, geology, origin, evolution and stability of life on the planet.
The entire campaign cost India approx. $74 million, making Mangalyaan the most cost-effective Mars mission among countries capable of doing so. China calls the Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) the ‘Pride of Asia’.
Science is not about knowing something alone. It’s also about asking new and right questions.”
Influences
Annadurai was greatly influenced by the late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the 11th President of India, known as the ‘Missile Man of India’.
Dr. Mayalaswamy Annadurai with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam
Dr. Kalam gives us examples of how to lead a meaningful life. I have become a better person after his presence.” He said that Dr. Kalam taught everyone to dream and lead a meaningful life. “This is what the life of Dr. Kalam teaches us.”
Awards, Honors and Achievements
Annadurai has received over 100 awards from various academic and professional bodies, including a Padma Shri and Rajyotsava Prashasti government awards; Several doctorates from distinguished universities including University of Madras, Anna University, Pondicherry University; National and International Awards; Social and public platforms to name a few. In 2004, he was awarded the Hari Om Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai Research Award by ISRO for his outstanding contributions to systems analysis and space systems management.
13th President of India Pranab Mukherjee conferred with Padma Shri by BR
Annadurai has written more than six books in Tamil, out of which “Kaiyaruke Neela” won the SP Adithanar Literary Award for the year 2013 and “Vinnam Mannam” won the Manavai Mustafa Memorial Science Award in 2021. Annadurai is an ardent motivator for making students aware about science and technology. He frequently travels across the country to meet students and encourage them to study science.
Annadurai at Thangam Mount Litera Zee School in Salem
In popular culture
- The central character (Akshay Kumar) in the critically acclaimed Bollywood film “Mission Mangal” was inspired by Annadurai.
- In the 2010 film “Chandrayaan”, Annadurai and his family members were mentioned and portrayed by South Indian actors.
facts/common sense
- Muthiah Vanitha was reluctant to accept the role of Project Director in the Chandrayaan 2 mission. Annadurai inspired him to take up this role.
- He has earned the Padma Shri award.
- The same day he got an interview call from ISRO and Department of Atomic Energy. He chose the former as it was nearer to his house.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn