P. Kunhikrishnan

P. Kunhikrishnan (born 30 May 1961) is a Space Scientist from India. Currently, he is a Distinguished Scientist (Apex Scale) & Former Director of U.R.Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), in Bengaluru, India. He was a member of Space Commission, Government of India

Education Kunhikrishnan completed his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Payyanur College in 1981 and later completed BTech in Electronics & Communication Engineering from College of Engineering(CET), Trivandrum in 1986. from 2015-2018. During his tenure, facility upgrades and infrastructure expansions were implemented to increase launch frequency and accommodate growing operational demands.

The 'Visitors Complex' at Sriharikota, that enables 10,000 visitors to witness satellite launches, was conceived and initiated by him during this period.

In 2018, he took over as the Director of U.R.Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru, the lead Centre in the country for design, development and realization of all the satellites of ISRO. As Director of URSC, he was steering the Centre in realising India’s Satellites for national requirements and their operationalization in respective orbits. His wife, Girija is an engineer at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).His sons are Navaneeth Krishnan and Aravind Krishnan.

Kunhikrishnan is also a trained Indian classical flautist.

Awards and honors Source: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from LNCT University, 2021 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science from GITAM University, 2019 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), 2016 ISRO Outstanding Achievement Award for Distinguished service in ISRO, 2018 Astronautical Society of India (ASI) award, 2011