Citizenship India Residence Bengaluru | Nationality Indian Name T. Alex | |
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Alma mater Kerala UniversityIndian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)Indian Institute of Science (IISc)T.K.M. College of Engineering Fields Electrical engineering, Aerospace Engineering | ||
Thekkethil Kochandy Alex is an Indian space scientist. He was the director of the Satellite Centre (ISAC) of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) (2008–2012) and Member, Space Commission. He specialized in electro-optic systems and satellite technology. Starting with the first Indian satellite Aryabhata he has been responsible for the sensor systems in all the Indian satellites. Under his leadership the Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems (LEOS) was established in 1993 and from the inception he was its director till 2008. From July 2012, he is a "Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor" at ISRO Headquarters.
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Education
Dr. Alex from kerala studied at the SRVLP school, Azhoor, Pathanamthitta and his high school studies were at the Catholicate High School. This was followed by his short period of study for the pre-university course at the Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta,kerala. He studied at the T.K.M. College of Engineering, Kollam from 1964 to 1969. He received his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Kerala University (Gold Medallist), Masters from IIT Madras and Doctorate from IISc Bangalore in Aerospace Engineering.He is married to Aswathy and has two sons, Anil and Arun who are both doctors.
Contributions to ISRO/India
Alex has contributed to Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in turn to India by establishing a laboratory in Bangalore. During his early days he designed and realised a magnetic sensor, used in Indian satellites. Further, he and his team developed infrared sensors as part of the "Make in India" policy for the country during 1982–1988. Instruments developed by his team are star trackers, laser-based instruments, fibre optics sensors, MEMS-based scientific devices, space qualified electro optics detectors. He contributed to India to make history by launching of first Moon mission, Chandrayaan-1. Under his guidance country explored inter-planetary mission, Mars Orbiter mission, Mangalyaan.
Alex has trained the first Indian astronaut, Rakesh Sharma, squadron leader, who flew aboard Soyuz T-11, launched April 2, 1984, as part of joint programme between the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Soviet Intercosmos space program.
Awards and recognition
Alex was awarded the Padma Shri in 2007, and the Distinguished Achievement Award of ISRO in 2008 for his contributions for the first Indian satellite. Other awards received include the IMDA award for the development of Infrared sensors and the Hari Om Ashram Vikram Sarbhai award (1987). He is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), National Academy of Science, India (NASI) and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, India (IETE) and a life member of ASI and Instrument Society of India. He is a fellow of the Optical Society of India and he was its President (2010–11).