Indian astrophysicist Prahlad Chandra Agrawal received the prestigious COSPAR Harrie Massey Award 2024 at the 45th COSPAR Scientific Assembly opening ceremony in Busan, South Korea, on July 15.

• He is the first Indian recipient of the award for space research.
• The award recognises outstanding contributions to the development of space research, in which a leadership role is of particular importance.
• Along with a medal and citation, the awardee is honoured by the naming of a Minor Planet (20064 Prahladagrawal), says a statement from Agarwal’s family.
• Agrawal was the guiding force and Principal Investigator for the ambitious AstroSat project, India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space telescope, launched on September 28, 2015.