Dr. B.N. Suresh’s space systems engineering expertise and leadership has been instrumental in the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) becoming one of the world’s top space agencies known for launching successful missions at lost cost.
Suresh led the development of their navigation, guidance, and control (NGC) systems for all launch vehicles of India, including the ISRO’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch vehicle, PSLV. He led the design and development of the electrohydraulic and electromechanical control systems, which are flying in all launch vehicles. His work also eliminated the high cost of importing components for actuation systems.
His contributions have enabled ISRO to achieve success in several complex missions, including the space recovery experiment (SRE) in 2007, which was successful in recovering the module in precise location in its first attempt. Dr. Suresh is presently Chancellor, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram and Honorary Distinguished Professor at ISRO HQ, Bangalore. He’s the recipient of over a dozen research and technical achievement awards, including his most recent in 2020 from IEEE, where he was co-recipient of the IEEE Simon Ramo Medal for his outstanding leadership in developing a national space program and pioneering space technology.