Maruthi R. Akella Wins IISc Distinguished Alumnus Award for Lunar Lander Work
Aerospace scientist Maruthi R. Akella received the IISc Distinguished Alumnus Award for his work on the IM-1 lunar lander.
BENGALURU, Nov 13: Aerospace scientist Maruthi R. Akella has been awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) for his contributions to the IM-1 lunar lander mission, which marked the first US landing on the Moon in over 50 years.
Akella, who holds the Cockrell Family Chair in Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, was recognized for his research group’s development of the in-situ guidance algorithms that were critical for the mission’s success. The IM-1 mission, conducted by Intuitive Machines, included the Nova-C lunar lander named ‘Odysseus’, which successfully landed on February 22, 2024, near the Moon’s south pole.
After earning his Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering at IISc in 1994, Akella worked as a research associate at ISRO and became the founding director of the Center for Autonomous Air Mobility at UT Austin. His research focuses on complex aerospace and robotic systems, particularly nonlinear control and adaptive systems. According to the University of Texas at Austin, these systems enable spacecraft to autonomously adjust their movements based on sensor data.
In recognition of his contributions to astrodynamics and spacecraft control, minor planet 5376 was named ‘Maruthiakella’ by the International Astronomical Union.
The IISc Distinguished Alumnus Awards will be presented on December 19, 2026, at a ceremony in Bengaluru, where Akella is one of five recipients recognized for their exceptional contributions across various fields.
IISc Director Prof. G Rangarajan remarked, “It is always wonderful to see our alumni making a mark in their chosen fields and contributing to society in so many different ways.” The awards aim to recognize alumni who have made significant impacts in their professions, society, and the Institute.