Salim Mehmud, also known as Salim Mehmood, is a Pakistani rocket scientist and nuclear engineer. Mehmud worked in the Apollo Program for NASA. He is a former chairman of Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). He also served as chief scientist at the Defence Science and Technology Organization.
NASA career Mehmud who was working at an Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a nuclear engineer was asked by Dr. Ishrat Hussain Usmani to go to the Pakistani Embassy at Washington, D.C., and meet Professor Abdus Salam. He along with fellow nuclear engineer Tariq Mustafa arrived at the Pakistani Embassy at Washington, D.C. After the formal conversation, Professor Salam and the engineers went to a local restaurant where the engineers was personally asked by Professor Abdus Salam to join NASA. According to his interview, Mehmud expressed his concern over joining NASA and clearly notified Abdus Salam about his willingness to work in Pakistan's nuclear industry. However, with Salam's insistence, Mehmud and Mustafa visited NASA's headquarter and examined the American advances in rocket technology. The rocket science was found to be more challenging than it seemed, according to Mehmud. After his visit to NASA, Mehmud and Mustafa decided to join NASA to study and train in the field of rocket science.
Role in the development of NASA's solid rockets Mehmud and Mustafa were assigned to conduct research in space and rocket technology. They, at first, declined the Salam's offer and vowed to work in a Pakistan's nuclear program, according to the interview given by CNBC Pakistan. However, after Abdus Salam's insistence, Mehmud and Mustafa visited the Goddard Space Flight Center. After the visit, Mustafa and Mehmud agreed to work for NASA. Mehmud and Mustafa arrived at Greenbelt, Maryland on a Douglas DC-6. Mehmud and Mustafa joined NASA in 1961. He was trained at the Goddard Space Center in rocket technology. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Nike-Cajun and Judi-Dart, a solid fuel propellent based rocket. He closely collaborated with NASA scientists and engineers in the development of solid fuel sounding rockets during the 1960s.
SUPARCO career and chairman Mehmud joined SUPARCO in 1961 on the request of Abdus Salam. He was immediately transferred in SUPARCO's rocket fabrication laboratory. Mehmud was one of the distinguished member of SUPARCO's team who launched the Satellite Launch Vehicle technology based-Rehbar-I under the direction of Air Cdre. dr. Wladysław Józef Marian Turowicz. He then was sent back to NASA where he specialised in satellite and rocket technology. He then travelled with Air Cdre. Wladyslaw Turowicz to the United States where both had studied and conduct research in space and rocket technology. Mehmud came back to Pakistan where he carried out his research in rocket science and satellite launch vehicles under the supervision of Wladyslaw Turowicz. Along with Turowicz, was responsible for installing the Launch pads and computer facility at the Sonmiani Flight Test Range. On 15 December 1980, with the support of PAEC Chairman Munir Ahmad Khan, President of Pakistan General Zia appointed Salim Mehmud as chief executive officer of SUPARCO and asked him to submit necessary recommendations for up-gradation of SUPARCO to the status of a full-fledged Commission.
Hatf missile program In 1980, he was made the chairman of SUPARCO with the support of PAEC chairman Munir Ahmad Khan. He successfully convinced General Zia to set up funds for 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 Hatf Missile Program and was the project director of the Missile program. He was the principal figure and scientist in Hatf missile program and was the brain behind the indigenous missile development. Under his leadership on 23 March 1989, on the Republic Day of Pakistan, SUPARCO, along with Engineering Research Laboratories, publicly tested the Hatf Missile.
Design of Hatf The Hatf-I, the first derivative, was designed as a highly mobile, tactical system. The missiles are said to have been derived from the second-stage of the French Eridan missile system. Due to difficulty in acquiring the technology needed in satellite development in the 1980s, the first derivative of Hatf missile is designed with zero or no satellite guidance. It can be considered as an artillery rocket. It is ground mobile and can be launched from a transporter erector launcher (TEL).
Badr satellite program In 1984, Salim Mehmud quickly launched the Badr satellite program. The development and the construction of Badr-1, Pakistan's first domestically-built digital communication satellite, was started. A small team of SUPARCO scientists and engineers who had studied and trained in University of Surrey were the part of the university's UO-9, UO-11 and UO-22 hamsat miniature satellite development and program, began the development of the satellite. Mehmud, then briefed General Zia and suggested to launch the satellite from Pakistani Satellite Launch Vehicle. However, having found difficulties in SLV-required technology, the idea of Pakistani SLV was postponed and later was cancelled. Mehmud retired from SUPARCO in 1989 as a chief scientist and was transferred in DESTO. In 1990, Badr-1 was finally launched via Long March 2E rocket from Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
Research papers Pakistan's Space Programme, by Salim Mehmud, published as a part of Space Policy in August 1989. Pakistan and Earth Observation System, by Salim Mehmud. Pakistan and Geostationary satellites, by Salim Mehmud
References
External links Dr. Salim Mehmud. Interview with Dr. Salim Mehmud (in Urdu). Dr. Salim Mehmud. CNBC Pakistan televised Interview with Dr. Salim Mehmud (TV-Series) (in Urdu). Karachi: CNBC Pakistan. Archived from the original on 22 June 2011.
