From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Salim Mehmud
Salim Mehmud
Salim Mehmud However, he was awarded a scholarship by former Chair-
man of PAEC Nazir Ahmad to continued his higher stud-
Born British India ies, and traveled to United States.
Residence Karachi, Sindh province There, he attended North Carolina State University
where he received his double M.Sc. in Physics and M.S. in
Citizenship Pakistani
Electrical engineering in 1959. The same year, he began
Nationality Pakistan his post-graduate research work at Oak Ridge Institute
for Science and Education which he did until 1961.[2] In
Fields Nuclear Engineering
1964, he studied Nuclear engineering with the Oak Ridge
Institutions Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), also at the
Commission (SUPARCO) Oak Ridge National Laboratory as part of the Atoms for
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA)
Peace Program.[3] In 1961, he took his M.Sc. in Nuclear
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) engineering, followed by Ph.D. in Nuclear engineering
Defence Science and Technology from Oak Ridge National Laboratory under the supervi-
Organization (DESTO) sion of Dr. William "Bill" Nelson in 1964.
Ministry of Communications of Pakistan While studying at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, his
(MCP)
Argonne National Laboratory
mentor Dr. Bill Nelson have called him as one of his
brightest and finest student in his doctoral teaching ex-
Alma University of Punjab perience. He wrote his doctoral dissertation covered a
mater Oak Ridge Institute for Science and
vast amount of study in the field of Nuclear electric rock-
Education
Oak Ridge National Laboratory et.
Doctoral Dr. William "Bill" Nelson
advisor NASA career
Known for Pakistan’s Space Program and missile Mehmud who was working at a Oak Ridge National Labo-
technology ratory as a nuclear engineer was asked by Dr. Ishrat Hus-
Influences Dr. Abdus Salam
sain Usmani to go to Pakistani Embassy at the Washing-
ton, D.C., and met with prof. Abdus Salam. He along with
Notable Sitara-e-Imtiaz (1990) fellow nuclear engineer Tariq Mustafa arrived to Pakis-
awards French Medal for Aeronautics (1989)
tani Embassy at Washington, D.C. After the formal con-
versation, dr. Salam and the engineers went to a local
Mehmud, Mehmood,
Dr. Salim Mehmud also known as Salim Mehmood is a
restaurant where the engineers was personally asked by
Pakistani rocket scientist and a nuclear engineer. He is
dr. Abdus Salam to join NASA.
the former chaiman of Space and Upper Atmosphere Re-
According to his interview, Mehmud expressed his
search Commission (SUPARCO). He has served as chief
concern over joining NASA and clearly notified Abdus
scientist at the Defence Science and Technology Orga-
Salam about his willingness to work in Pakistan’s nuclear
nization. Currently, he is the chief Scientific and Tech-
industry. However, with Salam’s insistence, Mehmud and
nological Advisor at the Ministry of Communications of
Mustafa visited NASA’s headquarter and examined the
Pakistan.
American advances in rocket technology. The rocket sci-
ence was found to be more challenging than it seems, ac-
Education cording to Mehmud. After his visit to NASA, Mehmud and
Mustafa decided to join NASA to study and trained in the
Mehmud took his B.Sc. in Physics and a B.A. in Mathemat-
field of rocket science.
ics in 1955 from the Punjab University. The same year,
he was admitted at the Punjab University’s Graduate Pro-
gram, and continued his research in Physics. He graduat- Role in the development of
ed and received his M.Sc. in Physics and Electronics from
Punjab University in 1957.[1] The same year, he joined NASA’s solid rockets
Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) as Engineer Mehmud and Mustafa were assigned to conduct research
Officer (EO) and served in Nuclear Engineering Division. in space and rocket technology. They, at first, declined
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Salim Mehmud
the Salam’s offer and vowed to work in a Pakistan’s nu- SUPARCO, along with Engineering Research Laboratories,
clear program, according to the interview given by CNBC publicly tested the Hatf Missile.
Pakistan. However, after Abdus Salam’s insistence,
Mehmud and Mustafa visited the Goddard Space Flight Design of Hatf
Center. After the visit, Mustafa and Mehmud agreed to The Hatf-I, the first derivative, was designed as a highly
work for NASA. Mehmud and Mustafa arrived at Green- mobile, tactical system. The missiles are said to have
belt, Maryland on a Douglas DC-6. Mehmud and Mustafa been derived from the second-stage of the French Eridan
joined NASA in 1961. He was trained at the Goddard Space missile system. Due to difficulty in acquiring the technol-
Center in rocket technology. He was the one of the earli- ogy needed in satellite development in 1980s, the first de-
est pioneers of Nike-Cajun and Judi-Dart, a solid fuel pro- rivative of Hatf missile is designed with zero or no satel-
pellent based rocket. He closely collaborated with NASA lite guidance. Dr. Mehmud’s team also designed the mis-
scientists and engineers in the development of solid fuel sile that it can be considered as an artillery rocket. It is
sounding rockets during the 1960s. ground mobile and can be launched from a transporter
erector launcher (TEL) vehicles.
SUPARCO career and chairman
Badr satellite program
Mehmud joined SUPARCO in 1961 on the request of dr.
In 1984, Salim Mehmud quickly launched the Badr satel-
Abdus Salam. He was immediately transferred in
lite program. The development and the construction of
SUPARCO’s rocket fabrication laboratory. Mehmud was
Badr-1, Pakistan’s first domestically-built digital commu-
one of the distinguished member of SUPARCO’s team
nication satellite, was started. A small team of SUPARCO
who launched the Satellite Launch Vehicle technology
scientists and engineers who had studied and trained in
based-Rehbar-I under the direction of Air Cdre. dr. Wla-
University of Surrey were the part of the university’s
dysław Józef Marian Turowicz. He then was sent back to
UO-9, UO-11 and UO-22 hamsats miniature satellite de-
NASA where he specialized in satellite and rocket tech-
velopment and program, began the development of the
nology. He then traveled with Air Cdre. Wladyslaw
satellite. Mehmud, then briefed the General Zia and sug-
Turowicz to the United States where both had studied
gested to launch the satellite from Pakistani Satellite
and conduct research in space and rocket technology.
Launch Vehicle. However, having found difficulties in
Mehmud came back to Pakistan where he carried out his
SLV-required technology, the idea of Pakistani SLV was
research in rocket science and satellite launch vehicles
postponed and later was cancelled. Mehmud retired from
under the supervision of dr.Wladyslaw Turowicz. Along
SUPARCO in 1989 as a chief scientist and was transferred
with Turowicz, he sat the Sonmiani facility and was the
in DESTO. In 1990, Badr-1 was finally launched via Long
responsible for installing the Launch pads and computer
March 2E rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
facility at the Sonmiani center.
On 15 December 1980, with the support of PAEC
Chairman Munir Ahmad Khan, President of Pakistan Gen- Support for rocket science in
eral Zia appointed Salim Mehmud as Chief Executive Of-
ficer of SUPARCO and asked him to submit necessary rec- Pakistan
ommendations for up-gradation of SUPARCO to the sta- Mehmud has been a vocal supporter of rocket science
tus of a full-fledged Commission. and technology in Pakistan. He, along with other scien-
tists, has been raised his voice in different occasion for
Hatf missile program Pakistan’s space program as well as a Pakistan’s satellite
In 1980, he was made the Chairman of SUPARCO with launch vehicle project. His efforts were involved in Pakis-
the support of PAEC chairman Munir Ahmad Khan. He tan’s pursuit for peaceful use of satellite technology and
successfully convinced General Zia to set up funds for has been a strong supporter of science in Pakistan.
SUPARCO. Zia who was a strong advocate for the space
program, allowed SUPARCO to developed the indigenous
satellite capabilities. During the 1980s, he started the
Legacy
Hatf Missile Program and was the project director of the Mehmud’s profile has been kept in secrecy but it is
Missile program. He was the principle figure and scientist known that he has work in Pakistan’s aerospace weapon
in Hatf missile program and was the brain behind the in- development program agency, DESTO. It is unknown
digenous missile development. As a profession, Mehmud whether how long did he stay there and when was he
is a nuclear engineer, and designed the missile in a com- took his retirement from the agency. However, it is
plex model that the rocket can carry approximately up known that he has played a "father-like" role in the es-
to 500 kg HEU fissile material. It was his leadership that tablishment of the Sonmiani and Tilla spaceports and
in 1989, 23 March, on the Republic Day of Pakistan, have been a scientist behind the Pakistan’s solid-fuel
rocket firing program during 1960s.
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Salim Mehmud
Along with other Pakistani scientists, Mehmud’s pro- Pakistan Military Consortuim (PMC). Pakdef.info.
file and credits have been kept in high level of ambiguity. http://www.pakdef.info/nuclear&missile/
Mehmud’s credit and work, such as other noted Pakistani memorial_munirahmed.html See Salim Mehmud.
scientists, have kept lower than Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan. Retrieved 2009.
Currently, he has been retired from Pakistan’s strategic [3] Ibid. See Salim Mehmud "Salim Mehmud".
program and remained untouch to the other Pakistan’s http://www.pakdef.info/nuclear&missile/
classified program. As of 2009, he is the chief Scientific memorial_munirahmed.html See Salim Mehmud.
and Technological Advisor at the Ministry of Communi-
cations of Pakistan.
External links
• Dr. Salim Mehmud. CNBC Pakistan televised Interview
Research papers with Dr. Salim Mehmud-Only available in Urdu Language
• Pakistan’s Space Programme, by Salim Mehmud, (TV-Series). Karachi: CNBC Pakistan.
published as a part of Space Policy in August 1989. http://video.google.com/
• Pakistan and Earth Observation System, by Salim videoplay?docid=3927488686022979715#.
Mehmud. • Salim Mehmud
• Pakistan and Geostationary satellites, by Salim • See Salim Mehmud
Mehmud Persondata
Name Mehmud, Salim
References Alternative
[1] The Organization (February 2, 2002). "Salim names
Mehmud, Chief Scientific and Technological Short descrip- Pakistani rocket scientist and a nu-
Advisor of Ministry of Communications". Leaders of tion clear engineer
Pakistan. Zoom Information Inc.. Date of birth
http://cache.zoominfo.com/CachedPage/
Place of birth British India
?archive_id=9184688&page_id=266132694&page_url=%2f%2fpakistan.lead.org%2ffaculty.htm&page_last_updated=2%2f27%2f20
[Faculty Member] Date of death
[2] Mehmud, Salim (April 28, 2007). See Salim Mehmud Place of death
"Salim Mahmud. S.I. Ex- Chairman SUPARCO".
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salim_Mehmud&oldid=468127814"
Categories:
• University of the Punjab alumni
• Pakistani nuclear physicists
• Pakistani aerospace engineers
• Pakistani scientists
• Pakistani scholars
• Rocket scientists
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• Sitara-i-Imtiaz
• Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission people
• Living people
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