Celebrating the Legacy of Indian Space Pioneer: Eknath Vasant Chitnis
Eknath Vasant Chitnis, a pioneering Indian space scientist and Padma Bhushan awardee, passed away at 100. He was instrumental in the formation of ISRO and pivotal in selecting the Thumba launch site. As one of Dr. Vikram Sarabhai's last associates, he mentored Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
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Renowned Indian space scientist Eknath Vasant Chitnis passed away at his residence on Wednesday, as confirmed by his family. The centenarian had been unwell for several days prior to suffering a fatal heart attack.
A recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Dr. Chitnis was a pivotal figure in the nascent stages of India's space endeavors, being closely associated with the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR), which eventually evolved into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Dr. Chitnis was instrumental in choosing Thumba, Kerala, as the site for India’s first rocket launch. He served as the director of ISRO's Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad from 1981 to 1985. Among his contributions was mentoring future luminaries like Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He is survived by his son, Dr. Chetan Chitnis, daughter-in-law Amika, and granddaughters Tarini and Chandini.
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