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Pune News: Senior space scientist, Padma Bhushan Dr. Eknath Vasant Chitnis (100 years) passed away in Pune on Wednesday morning. He made significant contributions to the formation of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He would have turned 100 years old on July 25, 2025. Born in Kolhapur, Chitnis received his schooling in Pune. He obtained degrees in Chemistry and Physics. He then completed a diploma course in radio communication.

On the advice of senior scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, he left Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA, to pursue space research and X-ray research and returned to India. In the 1960s and 1970s he conducted research on X-rays and space exploration.

Thumba site explored for satellite launch

He worked with Vikram Sarabhai in India’s space research program from 1961. He also served as the Director of the Space Applications Centre. He discovered the Thumba site for satellite launch. In 1962, he became Member Secretary of the Indian National Space Research Committee. This organization later became the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Important role in implementing Television Education Project

Dr. Chitnis played an important role in the design of INSAT series of satellites in India’s space sector. He did a lot of work for the use of space technology in educational and other fields.

In the 1970s, in collaboration with NASA, Dr. Chitnis collaborated with Prof. J.K. Satellite Instructional Television in association with Yashpal education Played a key role in implementing the (SITE) project. Due to this, with time, television sets reached the entire country. Dr. Chitnis was awarded the Padma Bhushan award by the Central Government for his contribution in the field of science.