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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = P. V. Manoranjan Rao
| image = P._V._Manoranjan_Rao.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1936|12|07}}
| birth_place = [[Nellore]]
| occupation = Scientist, writer
| yearsactive = 1962–present
| alma_mater = [[PhD.|Doctor of Philosophy]] ([[University of Calcutta]])
| notable_works = [[Ever Upwards: ISRO in Images]], [[From Fishing Hamlet To Red Planet]], 50 Years of Space: A Global Perspective, [[A Brief History of Rocketry in ISRO]]
}}
'''P. V. Manoranjan Rao''' is a veteran space scientist and author from India. In his career spanning over three decades — including over two decades at the [[Indian Space Research Organisation]]'s [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://seminar.vssc.gov.in/Employeeportal/pagContact.php?empcode=VS23518|title=VSSC Retired Employees Portal :: FeedBack|website=seminar.vssc.gov.in|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref> — he has done extensive research in areas including the physics of [[Lightning#Discharge|lightning discharge]], [[Ionosphere|ionospheric physics]], [[Magnetosphere|magnetospheric physics]], [[Very low frequency|VLF]] and [[Extremely low frequency|ELF]] [[wave propagation]], [[electrostatics]] of [[launch vehicle]]s, electrostatic charging of [[communications satellite]]s, [[Electromagnetic interference|EMI]]/[[Electromagnetic compatibility|EMC]] and [[lightning]] protection for launch vehicles. He has edited and authored three books on India's space history.

==Early life==
After completing his [[Bachelor of Science]] in [[Physics]] from [[Hindu College (Guntur)]], [[Andhra Pradesh]] in 1956, Manoranjan Rao did his [[Master of Science]] in Physics from [[Banaras Hindu University]] in 1958.

==Career==
During 1959–1961, Manoranjan Rao did research in [[theoretical physics]] at the [[Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science]] in [[Kolkata]]. This was followed by research stints (1962–1968) on the physics of lightning at the [[University College of Science, Technology & Agriculture|University College of Science]] and [[Bose Institute]] under the eminent [[physicist]] Prof. Satish Ranjan Khastgir.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.csl.358|title=Report|last=India|first=Bose Research Institute (Calcutta|date=1967-01-01|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FlpGAAAAYAAJ|title=Remote Sensing of Earth Resources: A Literature Survey with Indexes|last=Facility|first=NASA Scientific and Technical Information|date=1970-01-01|publisher=Scientific and Technical Information Division, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; [available from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Va.]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oMFBAQAAIAAJ|title=Indian Science Abstracts|date=1969-01-01|publisher=Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre.|language=en}}</ref> In 1968, he was awarded a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] in Physics by the [[University of Calcutta]]. In 1969, he moved to Kuden-kenkyujo, Toyokawa, [[Japan]] to continue with his research on [[atmospheric electricity]] and lightning physics at the [[Nagoya University]]. After spending a year in Japan, Manoranjan Rao joined the [[National Physical Laboratory of India]] for a brief stint. Later, at [[Banaras Hindu University]], he worked on [[Whistler (radio)|whistler]] phenomenon, which led to his research on very low frequency (VLF) and extremely low frequency (ELF) propagation in the [[magnetosphere]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=50 Years of Space: A Global Perspective|date=2008-01-01|publisher=Universities Press|isbn=9788173716003|editor-last=Manoranjan Rao|editor-first=P. V.|edition=First|location=Hyderabad|language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.amazon.in/Brief-History-Rocketry-ISRO-ebook/dp/B008SC4FM6|title=A Brief History of Rocketry in ISRO|last1=Rao|first1=PV Manoranjan|last2=Radhakrishnan|first2=P.|date=2012-08-02|publisher=Universities Press|language=English}}</ref>

He left [[Banaras Hindu University]] in 1973 to join the Space Physics Division (SPD) at [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]] (VSSC), [[Thiruvananthapuram]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/satish-dhawan-the-gentle-colossus/article24715.ece|title=Satish Dhawan — the gentle colossus|date=2009-09-24|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref>

He has 31 publications in various journals,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scholar.google.co.in/scholar?hl=en&q=manoranjan+rao&btnG=|title=manoranjan rao - Google Scholar|website=scholar.google.co.in|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-U7yAAAAMAAJ&q=%2522manoranjan+rao%2522|title=Indian Journal of Pure & Applied Physics|date=1963-01-01|publisher=Council of Scientific & Industrial Research|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d4BGAAAAYAAJ|title=Progress in Geophysics|date=1973-01-01|publisher=Geophysics Research Board.|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UFUK7QkqAogC|title=Radio Science|date=1968-01-01|publisher=American Geophysical Union|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3V4EAAAAIAAJ|title=Transactions of the Bose Research Institute|last=India|first=Bose Research Institute (Calcutta|date=1968-01-01|publisher=Bose Research Institute.|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9HpDAQAAIAAJ|title=International Aerospace Abstracts|date=1971-01-01|publisher=Technical Information Service, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B8PyAAAAMAAJ|title=Journal of Geomagnetism and Geoelectricity|date=1974-01-01|publisher=Society of Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity of Japan|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hJwsAQAAMAAJ|title=Readings in Remote Sensing Applications|date=1992-01-01|publisher=Scientific Publishers|isbn=9788172330408|language=en}}</ref> Indian and international, and has authored 8 technical reports internal to the [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre]]. Over 20 of his articles have been published in newspapers and magazines,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/18/stories/2002111801050200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030505053005/http://thehindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/11/18/stories/2002111801050200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2003-05-05|website=[[The Hindu]]|title=When Thumba took off|date=2002-11-18|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X94xAQAAIAAJ|title=Manorama Year Book|date=2000-01-01|publisher=Manorama Publishing House.|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/satish-dhawan-the-gentle-colossus/article24715.ece|title=Satish Dhawan — the gentle colossus|date=2009-09-24|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref> and he is quoted often in the media on matters related to the history of the [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.rediff.com/news/sep/29pslv.htm|title=Rediff On The NeT: India stuns the world|website=m.rediff.com|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Space-scientists-recall-Mrinalini-with-her-husband-Vikram-Sarabhai/articleshow/50699664.cms|title=Space scientists recall Mrinalini with her husband Vikram Sarabhai - Times of India|website=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z9AiAQAAMAAJ|title=Business India|date=1994-11-01|publisher=A. H. Advani|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://reflections-shivanand.blogspot.in/2007_10_03_archive.html|title=reflections: 3 Oct, 2007|website=reflections-shivanand.blogspot.in|access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref>

He was the founder-editor of ''Countdown'', the in-house journal of [[Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre|VSSC]], and ''Space India'', the in-house journal of the ISRO, from their inception until his retirement. He was also instrumental in reviving the ISRO's Space Museum in [[Thiruvananthapuram]]. He has written the script for over a dozen documentaries highlighting the VSSC's achievements. At the time of his retirement from theVSSC, he was part of VSSC Management Council, the apex body that works with the centre director in the overall management of the centre.

He retired from ISRO in 1996 as the Group Director of the Programme Planning and Evaluation Group at VSSC.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/nitcs-tathva-08-from-today/article1361832.ece|title=NIT-C's 'Tathva 08' from today|date=2008-10-23|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X94xAQAAIAAJ|title=Manorama Year Book|date=2000-01-01|publisher=Manorama Publishing House.|language=en}}</ref>

After his retirement from VSSC, he has worked on the lightning protection systems at [[Software Technology Parks of India|STPI]] Earth Station, [[Technopark, Trivandrum]] and the [[Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle]] launchpad at [[Satish Dhawan Space Centre]]. He also continued with his contributions to ISRO's Space Museum even after retirement — he wrote the content for the museum display panels.

He was the Editor-in-Chief of ''50 Years of Space: A Global Perspective'', a publication that commemorated 50 years of the [[Sputnik 1]] launch and the 58th [[International Astronautical Congress]] (Hyderabad, 2007).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-bookreview/half-a-century-of-space-exploration/article2267178.ece|title=Half a century of space exploration|date=2007-10-30|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=50 Years of Space: A Global Perspective|date=2008-01-01|publisher=Universities Press|isbn=9788173716003|editor-last=Rao|editor-first=P. V. Manoranjan|edition=First|location=Hyderabad|language=English}}</ref> Along with P. Radhakrishnan, a former space scientist, Dr. Rao co-authored ''A Brief History of Rocketry in ISRO'', published in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article554876.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706035731/http://newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/article554876.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 July 2012|title=The ups and downs of ISRO|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/award-for-book-by-isro-former-scientists/article6298641.ece|title=Award for book by ISRO former scientists|date=2014-08-09|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/books/this-is-indias-rocket-science/article3828527.ece|title=This is India's rocket science|date=2012-08-27|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref> This book won the Engineering Sciences Book award for 2014<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iaaweb.org/content/view/144/244/|title=International Academy of Astronautics|website=iaaweb.org|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref> from the Paris-based [[International Academy of Astronautics]] (IAA).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/award-for-book-by-isro-former-scientists/article6298641.ece|title=Award for book by ISRO former scientists|date=2014-08-09|newspaper=The Hindu|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref>

He was the Chief Editor of ''[[From Fishing Hamlet To Red Planet]]'', a compendium of articles on the history of the Indian Space Research Organisation <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/space/isro-releases-book-on-indian-space-programme_1818798.html|title=ISRO releases book on Indian Space Programme|date=2015-11-05|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c25-mars-orbiter-mission/fishing-hamlet-to-red-planet-download-e-book|title=Fishing Hamlet to Red Planet-Download the E-book - ISRO|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=2016-08-27|archive-date=11 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811055848/http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c25-mars-orbiter-mission/fishing-hamlet-to-red-planet-download-e-book|url-status=dead}}</ref> and its sequel ''[[Ever Upwards: ISRO in Images]]'', both considered to be the authorized and official history of [[Indian Space Research Organisation]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Manoranjan Rao, P. V.}}
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian physicists]]
[[Category:ISRO people]]
[[Category:Scientists from Thiruvananthapuram]]
[[Category:People from Nellore]]
[[Category:Scientists from Andhra Pradesh]]

P. V. Manoranjan Rao - Revision history

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