Episode 78: ISRO’s early Earth Observation Cameras with former chairman Mr Kiran Kumar

Dr Kiran Kumar. Credit ISRO Mr Kiran Kumar studied physics,
physical engineering and electronics in educational institutions in
India including the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in
Bangalore. He specialised in electro-optical imaging systems
and, in 1975, was recruited by Dr Yash Pal (one of a few key
individuals who played a pivotal role in the early days of India’s
space programme) to ISRO’s Space Application Centre in
Ahmedabad. During the 1970s, state-of-the-art imaging sensors
consisted of photodiodes, vidicon tubes and photomultipliers. It
was these analogue devices that he started working with before
moving on to modern solid-state devices, such as Charged
Coupled Devices (CCDs). He contributed to imaging systems for
India’s first remote-sensing satellite (Bhaskara-1) and to
deep-space missions to the Moon (Chandrayaan-1) and Mars (Mars
Orbiter Mission). During the 1970s, state-of-the-art imaging
sensors consisted of photodiodes, vidicon tubes and
photomultipliers. It was these analogue devices that he started
working with before moving on to modern solid-state devices,
such as Charged Coupled Devices (CCDs). He contributed to imaging
systems for India’s first remote-sensing satellite (Bhaskara-1) and
to deep-space missions to the Moon (Chandrayaan-1) and Mars (Mars
Orbiter Mission). A few highlights from the interview recorded
on 22 September 2018 Had considered medicine as a career, but, by
22 days, not meeting the age criteria, and with National College in
Bangalore initiating a new Physics Honours course in 1968, he chose
Physics. Strongly influenced by physicist and ardent
rationalist Dr H.Narasimhaiah, who later became the
vice-chancellor of Bangalore University. Has a clear memory of
Gagarin’s spaceflight in 1961 and Apollo 11 landing on the Moon in
1969. Graduated in 1971, the same year that Vikram Sarabhai died.
He never saw or met him. In 1975, he was working on his M.Tech at
the IISc when India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched. He
worked on Bhaskara – initially known as Satellite for Earth
Observation. In the mid-1970s, only four metropolitan areas in
India had television reception. The SITE programme illustrated the
benefits of satellite communication in delivering education to
small rural communities across India. During 1995-1999 – ISRO had
the highest spatial resolution imaging capability from space in the
civilian domain. Using Commercial Off the Shelf products (or parts
from COTS products) is not unusual for experimental space missions.
Moving into the Chairman’s role was not onerous. Previous
experience as director of an ISRO centre provided the required
experience. Although Kiran Kumar stepped down from
the chairman's role in January 2018, he remains active within
ISRO.