Abhishek Mandal at 12:49, 28 April 2026

2026-04-28T12:49:46Z

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{{Short description|Indian satellite design center}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Refimprove|date=December 2025}}
{{Third-party|date=January 2014}}
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{{Coord|12.9595|77.6546|display=title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = U. R. Rao Satellite Centre
| nativename =
| nativename_a =
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| logo = Indian Space Research Organisation Logo.svg
| logo_width = 100px
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| formed = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|1972|05|11}}
| preceding1 =
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| parent_agency = [[ISRO]]
| jurisdiction = [[Government of India|Department of Space]]
| headquarters = [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]], India
| coordinates =
| employees = 1,339 (as of 1 March 2026)<ref name="annualreport2022-2023">{{cite report|title=Annual Report 2025-2026: 3.2 Human Resources |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/AnnualReport/Annual_Report_2025-26_EN_28042026.pdf}}</ref>
| budget = See the budget of [[ISRO]]
| chief1_name = M. Sankaran
| chief1_position = Director
| chief2_name =
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| child2_agency =
| website = [https://www.ursc.gov.in/ URSC home page]
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The '''U. R. Rao Satellite Centre''' ('''URSC'''),<ref>{{Cite web |title=U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/URSC.html |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=www.isro.gov.in}}</ref> formerly '''ISRO Satellite Centre''' ('''ISAC''') is an [[ISRO]] centre for the design, development, and construction of Indian satellites. It was established in 1972 as Indian Scientific Satellite Project (ISSP) in Peenya Industrial Estates of Bengaluru.<ref name="age40">{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/bangalore-news/bangalores-isro-satellite-centre-turns-forty-481967 | title=Bangalore's ISRO Satellite Centre turns forty | access-date=23 June 2019 | archive-date=21 September 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921183903/https://www.ndtv.com/bangalore-news/bangalores-isro-satellite-centre-turns-forty-481967 | url-status=live }}</ref> ISAC was renamed as URSC after the former ISRO Chairman and ISAC founding director Dr. [[Udupi Ramachandra Rao]] with effect from 2 April 2018. URSC is situated in Vimanapura Post.

The centre launched its 100th satellite on 12 January 2018,<ref name="century">{{cite web | url=http://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/isro-to-launch-100th-satellite-today-a-look-at-space-agency-s-ten-achievements/story-WSNCAVHswR8XUsho2ie8vL_amp.html | title=ISAC's maiden century | access-date=23 June 2019 | archive-date=14 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714010833/https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/isro-to-launch-100th-satellite-today-a-look-at-space-agency-s-ten-achievements/story-WSNCAVHswR8XUsho2ie8vL_amp.html | url-status=live }}</ref> encompassing the [[Indian National Satellite System|INSAT]] series, the [[Indian Remote Sensing Programme|IRS]] series, and [[GSAT]] communication satellites.

Organisations under URSC include the [[Laboratory for Electro-Optics Systems]] (LEOS) and the [[ISRO Satellite Integration and Testing Establishment]] (ISITE).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Sanjana |date=2025-09-11 |title=IIST, URSC Sign MoU to Develop Venus Mission Payload {{!}} AIM |url=https://analyticsindiamag.com/ai-news-updates/iist-ursc-sign-mou-to-develop-venus-mission-payload/ |access-date=2025-12-11 |website=Analytics India Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Organisation ==
Like other ISRO centres, URSC is organised using [[matrix management]]. The centre is divided into Functional Areas such as Control and Mission Area, Electronic Systems Area, Mechanical Systems Area, and Reliability and Components Area.

Each area is divided into groups. For instance, Control and Mission area has many groups like Control Systems Group, and Flight Dynamics Group. Groups are divided into divisions. For example, Control Systems Group has divisions such as Control Electronics Division, Control Dynamics and Analysis Division.

Project Planning and Evaluation Group, Computer and Information Group, Space Astronomy and Instrumentation Division are independent. Facilities groups like Thermovac facility and projects such as IRS, INSAT, SATNAV operate separately.

== Directors ==
# Prof [[Udupi Ramachandra Rao]] (1976-1984) was the founding director. He was a [[Padma Bhushan]] recipient who later became the [[Chairperson of ISRO]] and held the post of Chancellor at [[Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology]], [[Thiruvananthapuram]] until his last days.
# [[Nilamber Pant|Col N. Pant]] (1984-1990), a [[Padma Shri]] recipient
# Dr [[Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan|K. Kasturirangan]] (1990-1994), a recipient of the three major civilian awards from the [[Government of India]]: the [[Padma Shri]] (1982), [[Padma Bhushan]] (1992) and [[Padma Vibhushan]] (2000).<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> He later became the Chairperson of ISRO
# Shri R Aravamudan (1994-1997)
# Dr [[Prem Shanker Goel|P. S. Goel]] (1997-2005), a [[Padma Shri]] recipient
# Dr [[K. N. Shankara]], (2005-2008), a [[Padma Shri]] recipient
# Dr [[T. K. Alex]] (2008-2012),<ref name="tka">{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/update/30-may-2008/dr-t-k-alex-appointed-new-director-of-isro-satellite-centre-bangalore |title=DR T K Alex Appointed as New Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore |access-date=23 June 2019 |archive-date=19 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019105700/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/30-may-2008/dr-t-k-alex-appointed-new-director-of-isro-satellite-centre-bangalore |url-status=dead }}</ref> a [[Padma Shri]] recipient
# Dr [[S. K. Shivkumar]] (2012-2015),<ref name="sks">{{cite web |url=http://www.isro.gov.in/update/30-jun-2012/s-k-shivakumar-takes-over-director-of-isro-satellite-centre-bangalore |title=S K Shivakumar takes over as Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore |access-date=23 June 2019 |archive-date=20 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820183947/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/30-jun-2012/s-k-shivakumar-takes-over-director-of-isro-satellite-centre-bangalore |url-status=dead }}</ref> a [[Padma Shri]] recipient
# Dr [[Mylswamy Annadurai]] (2015-2018),<ref name="ma">{{cite web |url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/06-apr-2015/dr-m-annadurai-takes-over-director-of-isro-satellite-centre-bangalore |title=M Annadurai takes over as Director of ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore |access-date=23 June 2019 |archive-date=20 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820183809/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/06-apr-2015/dr-m-annadurai-takes-over-director-of-isro-satellite-centre-bangalore |url-status=dead }}</ref> a Padma Shri recipient
# Dr [[P. Kunhikrishnan]] (2018-2021)<ref name="pk">{{cite web|url=https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/andhra-pradesh/isro-director-kunhikrishnan-will-retire-today-1367698|title=P Kunhikrishnan retires as Director of U.R.Rao Satellite Centre, Bangalore|access-date=3 June 2021|archive-date=2 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602132507/https://www.sakshi.com/telugu-news/andhra-pradesh/isro-director-kunhikrishnan-will-retire-today-1367698|url-status=live}}</ref>
# Shri [[M. Sankaran]] (2021-present) <ref>{{Cite news |date=27 May 2021 |title=Sankaran appointed U R Rao Satellite Centre's director |work=URSC |url=https://www.ursc.gov.in/directors/sankaran.jsp |access-date=3 June 2021 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603081116/https://www.ursc.gov.in/directors/sankaran.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*https://www.ursc.gov.in

{{ISRO facilities|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Indian space programme}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Research institutes in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Space programme of India]]
[[Category:Space technology research institutes]]
[[Category:Research institutes established in 1972]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Mysore State]]

U. R. Rao Satellite Centre - Revision history

Abhishek Mandal at 12:49, 28 April 2026