C V OF DR.

S PAL
1. Name : Dr. Surendra Pal

2. Date of birth : 11-03-1948

3. Contact address : Distinguished Scientist /

Program Director, Satellite Navigation Program
Deputy Director (Digital & Communication Area)
Chairman, GAGAN- SATNAV TDS Project Management Board
ISRO Satellite Centre, Govt. of India
Airport Road, Vimanapura post
Bangalore-560017, KARNATAKA
Ph: 080 25205275 Fx: 080 25083303
E-mail : pal_surendra2002@yahoo.co.in
Mob: 9880595280

4. Engineering Discipline : Electronics & Communication

5. Field of specialization : Space Communications (RF & Digital),

Satellite Navigation (GNSS,GAGAN,GPS/GLONASS/SBAS-
GAGAN), Electromagnetics & Antenna,
Information Technology

6. Awards and Honours : See ANNEXURE - A

7. Fellowships/Memberships : See ANNEXURE - A

8. Brief statement of the distinguished : See ANNEXURE - A

Achievements and contributions

9. Professional history and Educational : See ANNEXURE - B

Details

10. Best credited for a) Outstanding Leadership for carrying out Research
In Eng ineering,Technology & Applications
thereof
b) Technical management & Academics
c) For the development of various space-borne
communication systems for Indian Satellite Programme
d) Expertise in Satellite Based Navigation and GNSS
techniques

11. Strength His strong convictions and beliefs that:

a) To get a grip on any topic or subject one month’s

hard-work is needed
b) Engineering achievements are team
achievements and the team leader needs to
have, by & large, a rapport with each member,
should know overall job and be in a position to
review and appreciate the work done.
He should do periodical technical critical
evaluations and be in a position to apply mid
course corrections.
c) Credit should be shared with team, however
failures one should be able to absorb
 ANNEXURE -A

NAME OF CANDIDATE PAL SURENDRA_________(Dr.)_____________________

LAST (Family Name) First Middle
Present Position DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST / PROGRAMME DIRECTOR, SATELLITE NAVIGATION PROGRAMME
(GAGAN & IRNSS)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR (DIGITAL and COMMUNICATION AREA),
CHAIRMAN GAGAN PROJECT MANAGEMENT BOARD, (INDIAN S-BAS),

Organization ISRO Satellite Centre

Business Address ISRO SATELLITE CENTRE - AIRPORT ROAD ,

BANGALORE/KARNATAKA 560 017______________________INDIA_________
City/State/Province Zip/Postal Code Country

Home Address 1E 302, DOS/ISRO APARTMENTS, DOMLUR

BANGALORE / KARNATAKA 560 071 INDIA
City/State/Province Zip/Postal Code Country

Preferred Mailing Address Business Home

Date of birth 11-03-1948

Telephone ++91 80 25205275 Fax ++91 80 25083303 Email pal_surendra2002@yahoo.co.in
Mob: 9880595280

AWARDS AND HONOURS:

1. Prof. S N Mitra Memorial Award 2007, Indian National Academy of Engineering for the
overall contribution in the field of electronics
2. Performance Excellence Award – 2006 by Indian Space Research Organization
3. Astronautical Society of India Award – 2004 for Space Systems Management
4. IEEE Third Millennium Medal for overall contribution in the field (2001)
5. National Research and Development Corporation (India) award for X-band High Bit-rate QPSK
Modulator (1994)
6. National Research and Development Corporation (India) award for Multiband Antenna System at
L,S and UHF Band for Satellite Mobile Handheld Phone (1995) (developed for ICO/INMARSAT,
UK)
7. National Research and Development Corporation (India) award for Wide L and C band Antenna for
remotely controlled aircraft (1997) for DRDO
8. National Research and Development Corporation (India) award for X and S Band Monopulse
Tracking Feed for Remote Sensing Satellite Earth Stations (1998)
9. Aeronautical Society of India – Dr. Biren Roy Space Science and/or Design Award (1998) for
outstanding contributions in the field of space.
10. IETE 21st Ramlal Wadhawa Gold Medal (1998) for the outstanding contribution in the field of
Electronics and Telecommunication in the last ten years.
11. Om Praksh Bhasin Foundation Award (1997) for the overall contribution in the field of
Electronics and Telecommunications.
12. IETE Hari Ram Toshniwal Gold Medal (1989) - for the best innovations in Electronics
13. Hari Om Ashram Prerit Vikram Sarabhai Research Award (1989) - for outstanding
contribution in the field of Electronics and Telematics
14. ISRO/DOS - Distinguished Achievement Award (1975) for contribution towards launch of 1st
Indian Satellite : Aryabhata
FELLOWSHIPS AND MEMBERSHIPS
1. Fellow of IEEE, USA
2. Distinguished Fellow, Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers
(IETE), India (Dist.FIETE)
3. Fellow, Indian National Academy of Engineering (FNAE)
4. Fellow, The National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc.)
5. Member, Indian Science Congress Association
6. Member, Astronautical Society of India
7. Member, Antenna Measurements Technical Association
8. Council Member, IETE National Council (1994-97)(1998-1999)and(2000-2002, 2003-
2004, 2007-08) and Co-Chairman, IETE Science Forum, Chairman, IETE Research Board
(2003-2004)
9. Council Member, Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE), (2001-2004)
10. Member Sectional Committee (Engineering Sciences), The Indian Science Congress
Association
IEEE SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP: (i) AES (ii) (Earlier – APS & COMMUNICATION also)
IEEE Bangalore Section Executive Committee,
(i) Fellow IEEE-USA
(ii) Chairman, IEEE Bangalore Section (year 2004 & 2005)
i (iii) Vice Chairman 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003
ii (vi) Vice Chairman and Incharge Students Activities 1999 and 2000
(v) Member/Incharge Student Activities 1998 and 1999
iii (vi) Member 1997 and 1998

CONSULTANCY/CHAIRMAN/VISITING PROFESSORSHIP

1. ITU – Geneva for Regional African Satellite Communication Definition (1989-90)

2. INMARSAT/ICO-UK on LEOSAT Definition Project-21& development of Mobile
satellite Handheld Antenna (1993-96)
3. Indo-UK REC Project at MREC Jaipur (1998)
4. Ministry of Information Technology, Govt. of India (Chairman, Working group on
Information Infrastructure 2000-2002)
5. Reviewer of various projects of DRDO,MIT
6. Gave courses on Advanced Communications at Indian Institute of Science, under
Proficiency Porgramme (1999, 2000,2001,2002,2003)
7. Distinguished Visiting Professor of INAE (2003 to 2006)
8. On the GNSS Expert Panel of UN Office of Outer Space, Vienna
9. Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE-AES Society, USA
10. Vikram Sarabhai Memorial Lecture: GNSS – A Vast System of Systems, IETE Mid
Term Symposium – 2007
11. Co-convener, International Radar Symposium IRSI-2005,2007
12. Organizing Chair, International Microwave Symposium, ISM-2004
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS
A. Identify the area where has made significant contributions have
been made

Engineer/Scientist Technical Leader Educator

Dr. Pal, a Space Communication Technologist of repute, starting, at the inception of ISRO’s satellite
activities , from scratch, is responsible for design, development and fabrication of space-borne
telecommunication systems (TT&C & data transmitting systems) for all Indian scientific, remote sensing and
communication satellites [47 launched and 10 more are scheduled for launch in next three years]. He has
also pioneered the activities of satellite-based navigation in India and initiated the following activities:
1. Satellite Based Navigation Related Activities
The usage of GPS receiver on-board the Low Earth satellites, for providing navigation solution was initiated
as technology development effort. This was later translated as operational system to support the data product
generation all over the world, where Indian Remote Sensing Satellite Systems (IRS) data is being utilized for
image applications. Many on-board requirements for precise orbits are being served by the GPS receivers
flying on-board the satellites. The social significance of these activities is derivable from the fact that the IRS
data products are currently generated with greater accuracy and minimum external interface.

GPS Aided & Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN), a satellite based augmentation system for India, built
over the GPS system, is expected to provide seamless navigation support over the Asia-Pacific regions. This
system is being built with the participation of the Airports Authority of India. The proof of concept has been
demonstrated with the technology demonstration system. The system consists of 8 monitoring stations
located in the land mass in India, a master control centre and an uplink station co-located in Bangalore. The
final operations phase of the project has been taken up currently. The Airports Authority of India will be able
to reduce the operational and maintenance costs of aircraft operations across the country. The AAI being
service providers for all airlines using the Indian airspace for over-flying, landing etc is expected to earn very
large revenue. Although primarily built for AAI, the services will be available as a free-to air service and
numerous users will benefit through higher navigational accuracies.

An innovative proposal based on a unique concept of using geo-stationary satellite for navigation application
is being implemented for India. The system is named as IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigational Satellite
System), a regional self-reliant, all weather, 24 hour navigation support system over the Indian region (+1500
KMS) for land, air and sea users. This constellation concept is distinctive constellation consisting of only 7
satellites in the GEO (3) and inclined GSO (4), and is a regional system equivalent of GPS constellation of
the US. By virtue of the fact that these satellites will be visible over the Indian region all the satellites will be
in the visibility of ground stations within the country, thereby providing an opportunity of uplink the clock,
iono and ephemeris parameters as and when required from the ground uplink stations, as against other
navigation satellite constellation like the GPS, GLONASS or the GALILEO, thereby improving the accuracy
of the solution to the user. With the development of ground and space infrastructure, together with the
development of IRNSS receivers, this concept is expected to support all the navigation requirements of air,
sea and land users in the region. With the advent of IRNSS, India will be able to have a self-reliant
navigation with entire control and operations over Indian region. The concept of IRNSS when implemented
is expected to yield numerous civil and strategic benefits for the navigation user community in Indian region;
together with the regional supremacy of Indian space organization in the international navigation scenario.
The usage of the IRNSS receiver is expected to earn significant revenue.
2. Antenna/Microwaves and Space Communication related activities
Dr. Pal is responsible for design, development and fabrication of space-borne telecommunication systems,
from the inception of Indian satellite Programme, in VHF, L,S,C,X and Ku bands for all Indian scientific,
remote sensing and communication satellites [45 launched and 10 more are scheduled for launch in next
three years]. A few developed systems for GEO & LEO satellites are: (i) High sensitivity Telemetry Tracking
and Command (TT&C) transponders in S & C band (ii) X-band High bit-rate (200 ≈MBPS) QPSK data
transmitters (iii) Space-borne Satellite Positioning System based on GPS constellation (iv) Omni-directional
and wide beam TT&C antennas for spacecraft of different sizes and shapes with varying requirements (v)
Directional, Shaped Beam & Array Antennas at C,X & Ku & Ka bands. In the process of the said
developments he has also built up a strong team of RF engineers at ISRO.
Besides these, he has also developed high efficiency ground station antennas with feeds, of novel design
using dielectric spheres, cones at X,C and S bands. He has developed expertise in the area of microstrip
large array antennas for air surveillance, multiple beam phased array antennas and use of light weight
(less than 30 gms) integrated quadrifilar helix for TT&C omni-antennas for spacecraft. His long dedicated
service of 34 years has resulted in putting Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on firm footing in the
area of Antenna and Microwave Communication for Space. The matter of significance is the fact, that
developments were carried out in a very short time at a modest cost of about less than 20% of the
similar systems available elsewhere. This is achieved by incorporating many innovative ideas and
techniques to suit Indian technological needs.
He is also on the GNSS expert panel of UN-Office of Outer Space, Vienna.

B. Explain why the contributions are substantially better than peers

Dr. Pal’s contribution stands apart in providing timely, cheaper, better and appropriate solutions in highly
demanding and critical areas, where India in general & ISRO in particular has to face export sanctions and
technology denials. The result is all there to see with systems developed, providing flawless performance in
orbit and saving millions of $ worth precious Foreign Exchange. The following three examples of his (out of
numerous developments) innovative thinking & leadership speaks for him:

a) Development of a dual beam (RHC polarized, operating simultaneously at two frequencies) spherical
phased array scanning antenna system at X-band for IRS series of spacecrafts. The two beams can
dump data over two geographically widely separated ground stations, from an imaging satellite,
taking in to account the orbital velocity & all the orientation of the spacecraft, encountered during
various imaging modes. Similar system as of today does not exist. A conical array with single beam
from M/s Alcatel would have costed Rs.60 crores while a far superior in performance developed here
costs less than Rs. 2 crores. The inorbit performance of the phased array in TES, IRS-P5,
CARTOSAT-2 spacecraft had been flawless in simultaneously transmitting data to Delhi &
Hyderabad ground stations . A lighter and more efficient version is developed for Cartosat 2A & 2B.
A dual polarized version for RISAT is under development. In the civilian domain except India,
such a concept and antenna has not been used by any other space agency.
b) Development of L,S,C,X and Ku band ground station composite feeds with monopulse tracking.
Along with feeds reflectors have been shaped and a typical ≈70%. The indigenous feed cost is
<Rs.10 lakhs against Rs.60 lakhs for an imported system.
c) Work on air-surveillance radar for DRDO and SAR antennas have shown way that microstrip
radiators can be used for high power and bandwidth applications (1.5 MW peak and 12% BW).
Shaped beam and omni antenna developed by him are lighter and smaller in size to the ones used by
contemporary spacecraft of other space agencies.
d) His work on IRNSS & GAGAN will make India self sufficient in the area of GNSS. He is the
initiator of Satellite Based Navigation Systems (GNSS) in India

Besides all these, amidst his busy & tight schedules, he has written technical papers, edited journals and
book. He is also an active member of various professional societies. He has received a number of
awards, given to an individual with outstanding contributions in the field at the national level. He is the
 youngest Distinguished Fellow of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers,
India, which is a highly coveted recognition. He is also Fellow of IEEE, USA. His overall multifaceted,
technical/managerial contributions are of par excellence.

C. Other individual contributions :

Besides the various contributions to India's Space programme, he has developed systems for India’s
Defence Research & Development Organization and INMARSAT/ICO-UK. He has been consultant to ITU
on Regional African Satellite Communication and INMARSAT-UK for Project-21-LEO Mobile Satellite
Definition. He had also developed satellite hand held telephone antenna systems at L,S & FPLMTS band for
ICO. He has given courses on Satellite Communication at IISc under Proficience Programme,
published/presented more than 200 technical papers in national/international journals/conferences, guided
50 M.Tech and 6 Ph.D. students for their dissertations. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor of
INAE & Distinguished Lecturer, IEEE-AES. He is also Chairman of the review board for Communication
Payload of India's INSAT series of geostationary communication satellites and Launch Vehicle Range
Related Programmes. He has been on the editorial board of various technical journals and founder editor of
the Journal of Spacecraft Technology. He is also co-editor of a book "Perspectives in Communications"
published by World Scientific Publications, Singapore. He is a Ph.D. examiner for various Indian
technological institutions and Universities. He has also been associated with the framing of syllabus for
Communication Systems at Post Graduate level. He had been Chairman of Working Group on
Information Infrastructure of the Ministry of Information Technology, Govt. of India for popularizing
research activity in the field of E-commerce and Information Technology (2000-2002).

EVIDENCE OF TECHNICAL ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Note: Indian Space Research Organization, being a government body and hence developments are not
widely published in the public domain.

PART I (Three Most Important Items of tangible and verifiable evidence of technical
accomplishment)
(1) Design, Development and Fabrication of a high bit-rate data transmitters at X band (QPSK
modulations, data rates ≈200MBPS, RF output power 12, 20 and 40W) along with QPSK
modulators, SSPAs and shaped wide beam antenna (path loss variation is compensated by onboard
antenna gain pattern), for India's IRS series of remote sensing spacecraft. The varying power and
bit-rate requirements for all the orbiting satellites have been successfully met.
(2) Design, Development and Fabrication of a light weight Space Borne Hemispherical Phased Array
Antenna at X-band, capable of generating two beams to point to two different ground stations,
compensating the spacecraft orbital motion as well as pitch, roll and yaw movements during
complex imaging mode of a spot from a sun synchronous orbiting remote sensing spacecraft (IRS-
TES,IRS-P5 & Cartosat-2). The minimum eirp is ≈22dBW in any beam. The development
restricts: (i) interference from satellite to other networks (ii) spill over of RF signal and remote
sensing data to undesired regions.
(3) Design Development and Fabrication of a Ultra Low Side Lobe Array Antenna (4M x 1.1M, -36dB
SLL, 12% Bandwidth, 1.5MW Peak and 8.4 kW average power handling capability) using
Microstrip Patch Antennas. The complex development has broken the myth that microstrip antennas
are of narrow band width and low power handling capability. The antenna is developed for India's
Air Borne Surveillance Radar Programme. The same technology is used for Air Borne SAR
antennas (Radar Symposium – IRSI-99-Dec 99, Bangalore-India pp-114-119)).

PART-II (15 more additional items)

(1) S-band PLL based coherent TT&C Transponder (with associated diplexers) with -127 dBm
sensitivity, used in IRS and SROSS series of Spacecraft (Total No. orbited 11, slated for launch in
the next two years 5). The import cost of such a system is ≈1.5M US $; per piece. The same is
made in-house for ≈ 80K US $ (Total no qualified so far 42).
(2) -110dBm sensitivity, C-Band TT&C Transponders, along with associated filters for India's
Geostationary INSAT series of spacecraft (Total satellites launched :10). International cost ≈1.00
million US $; indigenous cost ≈100K US$
(3) Space Borne Satellite Positioning System utilizing GPS constellation along with its antenna system.
The in-orbit position accuracy obtained in IRS series of spacecraft is ±10meters. Such systems will
henceforth become a part of the main bus of India's all orbiting spacecraft. (Import cost per piece :
150K US$, Indigenous cost 25K US$) (Total No. used in space till date : 12)
(4) Monopulse Tracking feed for ground stations at S and X band. The conventional corrugated or
pyramidal horns for such a system have been replaced by dielectric spheres reducing the cost &
weight by almost a factor of TEN. The feeds are compact and provide for 10mϕ paraboloid with a
G/T of ≥33dBo/k. These are being extensively used at various ground stations in India for tracking
remote sensing satellites.
(5) Light Weight Miniaturized Multi Frequency (FPLMTS and L/S band)) Antenna (weight <30 gms,
10mmϕ, 14mm long) for Mobile Satellite Hand Held Antenna for INMARSAT/ICO U.K. The first
successful trials for mobile satellite communication were carried out by INMARSAT using this
antenna system. ISRO along with ICO holds a patent for it. The antenna can be used for variety of
other applications.
(6) Different types of omni antenna systems ( at VHF, S and C bands) for India's various spacecraft with
varying size and requirements. The antennas are wide band, light weight and provides >85% of the
radiation sphere coverage. The systems have been used in 40 orbited spacecraft (including IRS and
INSAT series) and 10 more are slated for launch in the near future.
(7) Study of Spherical Dielectric Antennas which had led to the development of item (1) above.
(S Pal, "Spherical Dielectric Antenna", Proceedings of RF Technology Expo, Anaheim, California
USA, pp. 451-472, Jan-Feb 1986)

Academic, Studies, Patents and Research Oriented Activities

(8) Book edited : U.R. Rao, K Kasturirangan, K R Sridharamurthy and Surendra Pal
"Perspectives in Communications" Vol I and II, World Scientific Publication,
Singapore – 1987

(9) Founding Editor of Journal of Spacecraft Technology 1991-99 (b) Member, Editorial
Board, Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research 1994-99.
Member, Editorial Board of IETE Technical Review, Journal of ICFAI Institute of
Technology
(10) Guest Editor: Four Special Issue of IETE Technical Review on Antennas, Microwave
Components,MIC/MMIC, Microwave Solid State Devices, Microwave Tubes
(11) Published/presented 170 technical papers in national and international journals and
conferences.

(12) Mobile Satellite Communication for India (2000) (ii) Regional African
Communication System Study -ITU-Report (1989)
(13) INMARSAT-P, Project-21 - LEO Constellation Study for Mobile Satellite
Communication (1991-92)
(14) Study on Satellite Navigation for civil aviation for India (SBAS system) &
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)
(15) Patent: A multiband Antenna System for operating at L,S and UHF Band, US
patent No. 08/378171, European Patent no. 94308939.1
*Applied for three more patents

Published/Presented 200 Technical articles in National & International Journals in the field of
Electromagnetics, Microwaves and communications.
 ANNEXURE -B

EDUCATION

Educational Institution Location Degrees

Year
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE (IISc) BANGALORE-INDIA Ph.D. (Communication)
1984
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY and SCIENCE PILANI-INDIA M.Sc. (Tech) Electronics
1970
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY and SCIENCE PILANI-INDIA M.Sc.(Physics)
1968
BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY and SCIENCE PILANI-INDIA B.Sc.
1966

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY (current position first)

From (year) to
(Year) Name of Company Position Held and Responsibilities (brief
description)

2008-todate Distinguished Scientist Engaged in Design, Development and Fabrication

of variety of spacecraft related TT&C
2003-2008 Outstanding Scientist and transponders, High bit-rate data transmitters,
Deputy Director
various types of antennas and other system in
ISRO Satellite Digital and Communication
VHF,L,S,C,X and Ku bands. The responsibilities
Centre Area/Chairman, GAGAN
Bangalore, (Indian WAAS system) also include future planning and reviewing
INDIA Project Management Board telecommunication payloads for Indian INSAT
2001-2003 (Geostationary communication & Met satellites)
Deputy Director series of satellites, Indian Launch Vehicle Range
Digital and Communication related issues and also implementation of Satellite
Area/Chairman, GAGAN Based Navigation System – SBAS/GPS and GEO
(Indian WAAS system) overlay system for Indian Airspace and Indian
Project Management Board
Regional Navigation Satellite System – an
1997-2001 - do - Sci./Engr. `H and Group
independent constellation for India. As Deputy
Director
Communication Systems Group Director and Group Director provided technical
1992-1997 - do - Sci./Engr. `G' and Group and managerial guidance for design, development
Director and fabrication of various systems related to
Communication Systems Group aerospace electronics in the area of digital and RF
1987-1992 - do - Sci./Engr. `SG' and Head techniques for Indian space programme
Communication Systems Dvn.
1982-1987 - do - Sci./Engr SG and Project
Manager
IRS-1A / Head
Communication Systems Dvn.
1971-1982 - do - Sci./Engr SC/SD/SE & SF
1970-71 Tata Institute of Sci./Engr SC2 Worked on Ooty Radio Telescope and also a long-
Fundamental
range radio interferometer at ≈326-327 MHz.
Research,
Bombay