Satish Dhawan: The Father of Experimental Fluid Dynamics Research in India

Name: Satish Dhawan

Born: September 25, 1920

Place of birth: Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India (Present-day Jammu and Kashmir, India)

Died: January 3, 2002

Place of death: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

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Education:

• Bachelor of Science in physics and mathematics
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
• Master of Arts in English literature from the University of the Punjab in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan)
• Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
• Aeronautical engineering degree from the California Institute of Technology
• Double PhD in mathematics and aerospace engineering under the supervision of his advisor Hans W. Liepmann in 1951

Field:

Mechanical and aerospace Engineering

Known for: Indian space programme, experimental fluid dynamics research in India, turbulence and boundary layers

Institutions:

• Indian Space Research Organisation
• Indian Institute of Science
• California Institute of Technology
• National Aerospace Laboratories

Thesis: Direct Measurements of Skin Friction (1951)

Doctoral advisor: Hans W. Liepmann

Career:

• Senior Scientific Officer, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1951)
• Professor and Head of the Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1955)
• Visiting Professor, California Institute of Technology, US (1971–72)
• Chairman, ISRO and Secretary to the Government of India at the Department of Space (1972–1984)
• President, Indian Academy of Sciences (1977–1979)
• Chairman, Research council, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bangalore (1984–1993)
• Director, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (1962–1981)

Awards:

• Padma Bhushan (1971)
• Padma Vibhushan (1981)

Honours:

• Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, India
• Satish Chander Dhawan Government College For Boys, Ludhiana, India
• Department of Mechanical Engineering Building at Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, India
• Prof SATISH Dhavan Computer Centre at Uttar Pradesh Textile Technology Institute Kanpur, India.

Early Life and Education

Satish Dhawan was born on September 25, 1920, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, British India (present-day Jammu and Kashmir, India). He received his early education in India and pursued higher studies in the United States. Dhawan was an Indian mathematician and aerospace engineer who was widely regarded as the father of experimental fluid dynamics research in India.

Dhawan completed his Bachelor of Science in physics and mathematics, a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, and a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of the Punjab in Lahore, British India (now in Pakistan). In 1947, he completed a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and an aeronautical engineering degree from the California Institute of Technology. He later earned a double PhD in mathematics and aerospace engineering under the supervision of his advisor Hans W. Liepmann in 1951.

Leadership in Space Research

Satish Dhawan was one of the most eminent researchers in the field of turbulence and boundary layers, leading the successful and indigenous development of the Indian space programme. He succeeded M. G. K. Menon as the third chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1972.

Director of Indian Institute of Science

Dhawan joined as faculty at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in 1951 and became its director in 1962. Although he was the head of the Indian space programme, he devoted substantial efforts towards boundary layer research. His most important contributions are presented in the seminal book Boundary Layer Theory by Hermann Schlichting. He set up the country’s first supersonic wind tunnel at IISc. He also pioneered research on relaminarization of separated boundary layer flows, three-dimensional boundary layers, and trisonic flows.

Support of Space Research

Dhawan carried out pioneering experiments in rural education, remote sensing, and satellite communications. His efforts led to operational systems like INSAT, a telecommunications satellite; IRS, the Indian Remote Sensing satellite; and the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), that placed India in the league of space-faring nations.

Success and Failure

In 1979, when APJ Abdul Kalam was the director of a Satellite Launch Vehicle, the mission failed to launch the satellite in the orbit. Instead, it was put into the Bay of Bengal. Abdul Kalam’s team knew that there was a leakage in the fuel of the system, but they hoped that the leakage was negligible, and thus they thought there was enough fuel in the system. This miscalculation led to the failure. Satish Dhawan, being the chairman at the time, called Abdul Kalam and conveyed to the press, “We failed! But I have very strong trust in my team, and I believe that next time we will definitely succeed.” This surprised Abdul Kalam, as the blame for the failure was taken by the chairman of ISRO. The next mission was prepared and launched successfully in 1980. When this succeeded, Satish Dhawan told Abdul Kalam to attend the press meet without his presence. It was observed that when the team failed, he took the blame. But when the team succeeded, he attributed the success to his team, thus portraying the picture of an ideal leader.

Leadership in Space Research

In 1972, Satish Dhawan became the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and secretary to the Government of India at the Department of Space. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in the successful and indigenous development of the Indian space program. He was instrumental in building India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, which was launched by the Soviet Union in 1975.

Satish Dhawan’s leadership style was characterized by his faith in his team and his ability to take responsibility for the failures of the organization. In 1979, when the first attempt to launch a satellite failed, he took the blame publicly, stating that the team would succeed in their next attempt. This act of leadership earned him immense respect from his team and the public at large. The next mission was launched successfully in 1980. When the team succeeded, Satish Dhawan attributed the success to his team, thus portraying the picture of an ideal leader.

Director, Indian Institute of Science

Dhawan joined the faculty of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in 1951 and became its Director in 1962. During his tenure, he devoted substantial efforts towards boundary layer research, despite being the head of the Indian space program. He made important contributions to the field of turbulence and boundary layers, which are presented in the seminal book Boundary Layer Theory by Hermann Schlichting. He also set up the country’s first supersonic wind tunnel at IISc and pioneered research on relaminarization of separated boundary layer flows, three-dimensional boundary layers, and trisonic flows.

Support of Space Research

Satish Dhawan carried out pioneering experiments in rural education, remote sensing, and satellite communications. His efforts led to the development of operational systems such as INSAT, a telecommunications satellite, and IRS, the Indian Remote Sensing satellite. He was also instrumental in the development of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), which placed India in the league of space-faring nations.

Honours and Awards

Satish Dhawan received several honors and awards for his contributions to science and engineering. In 1971, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards. He was later awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 1981. He was also elected as a fellow of the Royal Society, the Indian Academy of Sciences, and the Indian National Science Academy. In 1999, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Aeronautical Society of India.

Legacy

Satish Dhawan’s contributions to science and engineering have had a significant impact on India’s space program and the field of fluid dynamics. His leadership style, characterized by his humility and faith in his team, has been an inspiration to many. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers in India and around the world.

Satish Dhawan Space Centre, located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, is named in his honor. Several educational institutions, including Satish Chander Dhawan Government College for Boys in Ludhiana and the Department of Mechanical Engineering Building at the Indian Institute of Technology Ropar, are also named after him.