Space Scientist Prahlad Agrawal & Anil Bhardwaj honoured by COSPAR

Space scientists Prahlad Chandra Agrawal and Anil Bhardwaj were honoured by the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) at its biannual meeting in Busan, South Korea, for their contributions to space research.

The 45th COSPAR scientific assembly is being held in Busan, South Korea, from 13 -21 July 2024. 

Harrie Massey Award to Prahlad Chandra Agrawal 

Noted space scientist Prahlad Chandra Agrawal was honoured with the Harrie Massey Award. The Harrie Massey Award is given to a person’s outstanding contribution to space research, for which a leadership role is particularly important.

A minor planet was named after Professor Agarwal as part of the Award.

Professor Prahlad Chandra Agrawal (retired) was a professor in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Professor Aggarwal led the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) AstroSat programme, which was dedicated to studying celestial sources in the X-ray, optical, and UV spectral bands. 

ISRO launched the AstroSat mission in 2015. Professor Aggarwal was also part of the Chandrayaan -1 mission, which was launched by ISRO on 22 October 2008 to study the moon.

Vikram Sarabhai Medal for Anil Bhardwaj

Anil Bhardwaj was honoured with the Vikram Sarabhai Medal at the 45th COSPAR Scientific Assembly. 

The Vikram Sarabhai Medal, instituted by COSPAR in association with ISRO, is given to a space scientist from a developing country for his outstanding contribution to space research.

Anil Bhardwaj is currently the director of the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

He has been involved in ISRO's interplanetary missions, including Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and the Aditya-L1 (study of Sun) missions.

About Committee on Space Research (COSPAR)

The  Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) was set up in 1958 after the successful launch of an artificial satellite named Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957 .

The COSPAR was set up by the  International Council of Scientific Unions, now known as the International Science  Council.

The COSPAR holds its scientific assembly every two years in which space scientists from all over the world participate.

Headquarters: Paris, France