Udipi Ramachandra Rao, the former head of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) who played a key role in launching its satellite programme, died at the age of 85 in Bengaluru on Monday, ISRO spokesman D P Karnik said.
U R Rao, as he was more commonly known, died at his residence in Bengaluru, which is also home to ISRO's headquarters.
"Saddened by demise of renowned scientist, Professor U R Rao. His remarkable contribution to India's space programme will never be forgotten," Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter.
Rao, chairman of ISRO from 1984-1994, was a specialist on pioneer and explorer aircraft. ISRO put out its first satellite, Aryabhatta, during his tenure there.
Rao accelerated the development of rocket technology at ISRO, leading to the successful launch of later vehicles, the ASLV and PSLV, according to ISRO.
These were developed at a time when Indian scientists faced great restrictions with transfer of technology to India from most countries was banned after it conducted a nuclear test in 1974.
India's locally-built satellite launch vehicles have completed over 100 successful and low-cost launches of domestic and foreign satellites.
Rao, who was awarded India's second highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan earlier this year, had worked as faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Texas in the United States.
Rao was vice president of the International Astronautical Federation from 1986-1992 and was inducted into the International Aeronautical Federation's Hall of Fame in 2016.
U R Rao was chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation from 1984-1994.
