Former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Prof UR Rao passed away early this morning at his residence in Bengaluru. He was 85. ISRO sources told AIR that he was bed-ridden for quite long due to geriatric health issues. <br/><br/>Prof Rao is credited with having played an instrumental role in building up Indian satellite programmes right from the days of the nation's first satellite Aryabhatta. An alumni of Madras University, Prof Rao was serving as the Chancellor of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Institute for Space Science and Technology till his last breath. <br/><br/>He was serving many reputed scientific research institutions and Universities as a member of their academic councils and panels. Prof UR Rao was awarded Padma Vibhushan this year. International Astronautics Federation inducted him in its 'Hall of Fame' last October.