Mylswamy Annadurai is a renowned Indian scientist known as the “Moon Man of India”. He has worked at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for 36 years. He will be 64 years old on July 2nd.
He was project leader of Chandrayaan‑1, India’s first mission to the moon, which advanced India’s space program. He also served as program director of Chandrayaan‑2 and Mars Orbiter Mission or Mangalyaan.
Here’s everything you need to know about the “Moonman of India”.
Early life
Mylswamy Annadurai was born on July 2, 1958 in the village of Kodhawady near Pollachi in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.
After early education in his native village, Annadurai earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering and graduated from the Government College of Engineering in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Later in 1982 he received a Masters degree from the PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore.
years at ISRO
Mylswamy Annadurai joined ISRO in 1982. He served as spacecraft operations manager for the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)-1A, IRS-1B and Indian National Satellite System (INSAT)-2A and 2B satellite programs. He then served as deputy project manager for some programs and was later promoted to mission manager for the INSAT-2C, INSAT-2D, 2E, 3B, 3E and GSAT (Geosynchronous Satellite)-1 space programs.
How he became the Moon Man of India
In 2004 Annadurai was director of the Indian lunar probes Chandrayaan‑1 and Chandrayaan‑2.
Chandrayaan‑1, India’s first lunar mission, was launched on October 22, 2008 from Sriharikota Island. It carried 11 scientific instruments from India and several other countries, and the mission’s estimated lifespan was two years. The ship entered lunar orbit on November 8 and on November 14 the Moon Impact Probe was released, which impacted near the lunar south pole and made the mission a success. Later, Annadurai also served as project manager of India’s second successful lunar mission, Chandrayaan‑2, earning him the title of “Moonman of India”.
Other projects and works
Annadurai managed several ISRO satellite projects, but his most famous post was the program director of the Mars Orbiter Mission, also known as the Mangalyaan Mission. It was launched in November 2013 and successfully entered Mars orbit in September 2014.
In addition to her work at ISRO, Annadurai also wrote a popular science column for the Tamil newspaper Kungumam and lectured on science to encourage young Indians to pursue scientific careers.
