P. Radhakrishnan (scientist)
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox person
|name = P. Radhakrishnan
|image =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1943|10|10}}
|birth_place = Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
|nationality = Indian
|education = Master of Science in physic]
|alma_mater = University of Kerala
|occupation = Scientist, author, speaker
|employer = Government of India
|organization = Indian Space Research Organization
|yearsactive = 1966–present
|awards =
| notable_works = A Brief History of Rocketry in ISRO
}}
P. Radhakrishan (Nair, Paramaswaran Radhakrishnan){{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/n/nair.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915081402/http://www.astronautix.com/n/nair.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2016|title=Nair|website=www.astronautix.com|access-date=2016-08-30}} is a veteran space scientist, author and speaker from India. He retired from the Indian Space Research Organisation as the Deputy Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/KSCSTE-Science-Festival-at-Kanakakkunnu-from-Tomorrow/2014/11/01/article2502461.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101183727/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/KSCSTE-Science-Festival-at-Kanakakkunnu-from-Tomorrow/2014/11/01/article2502461.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 November 2014|title=KSCSTE Science Festival at Kanakakkunnu from Tomorrow|access-date=2016-08-30}} Radhakrishnan was one of the two trainees slated to travel to space in the STS-61-I (Challenger) mission in September 1986 as a Payload Specialist for INSAT-1C,{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceline.org/challenger/challist.html|title=Spaceline: The Challenger Legacy|website=www.spaceline.org|access-date=2016-09-01}} but the flight was cancelled after the Challenger disaster.{{Cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/astronauts-p.-radhakrishnan-and-n.c.-bhat-get-mentally-physically-prepared-for-space-trip/1/354670.html|title=Astronauts P. Radhakrishnan and N.C. Bhat get mentally, physically prepared for space trip|access-date=2016-08-30}} N.C.Bhat{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/b/bhat.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160915033853/http://www.astronautix.com/b/bhat.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2016|title=Bhat|website=www.astronautix.com|access-date=2016-08-30}} from ISRO Satellite centre was the other Indian space scientist who was trained by NASA for the mission – the plan was to select one of these two for the mission.{{Cite web|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2004/stories/20030228004902200.htm|title=Training for the skies|website=www.frontline.in|access-date=2016-08-30}}
Early life
Born in Thiruvananthapuram in 1943, Radhakrishnan completed his Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from University College Thiruvananthapuram in 1963. In 1965 he completed his Master of Science in Physics from the same college.{{Cite web|url=http://www.spacefacts.de/bios/international/english/nair_radakrishnan.htm|title=Astronaut Biography: Radhakrishnan Nair|last=Becker|first=Joachim|website=www.spacefacts.de|access-date=2016-08-31}}
Career
Radhakrishnan joined the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1966 and was involved in the development of India's early satellites like Aryabhata, Rohini and APPLE, and later the Insat satellites. He was part of the Programme Planning & Evaluation Group at VSSC, and later became the Group Director of the Electronics Division. During the 1984–1986 period – as part of the evaluation to be a Payload Specialist in the STS-61-I (Challenger) mission – he went through extensive tests and training at the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bangalore and the Johnson Space Center.{{Cite web|url=http://www.godrejappliances.com/godrej/GodrejandBoyce/pdf/2005/marapr/ATouchofHeroism.htm|title=A Touch of Heroism|website=www.godrejappliances.com|access-date=2016-09-01}} He retired from the ISRO's LPSC as the center's deputy director for systems reliability & quality assurance.{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronaut.ru/as_india/text/nair.htm?reload_coolmenus|title=Nair Paramaswaren Radhakrishnan|website=www.astronaut.ru|access-date=2016-09-01}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XD1ZaYbiWwMC|title=Emerging Space Powers: The New Space Programs of Asia, the Middle East and South-America|last=Harvey|first=Brian|last2=Smid|first2=Henk H. F.|last3=Pirard|first3=Theo|date=2011-01-30|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9781441908742|language=en}}
References
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Category:20th-century Indian physicists