Gadicherla V.R. Rao (G.V.R.Rao)
| G.V.R.Rao (Gadicherla V R Rao) | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 June 1918 Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India |
| Died | 27 May 2005 (aged 86) Thousand Oaks, California, USA |
| Known for | Bell nozzle, also commonly called the Rao Nozzle |
Gadicherla V.R. Rao (G. V. R. Rao), D.Sc. (June 24, 1918- May 27, 2005) was an American aerospace engineer who worked in the jet engine and rocket propulsion fields. Rao worked at General Electric's in their Gas Turbine Division department and was a research scientist at Marquardt Aircraft, before working for Rocketdyne, where he designed the optimum thrust nozzle. Often referred to as the "Rao's nozzle", it is part of the standard design for rocket engines. The Rao Nozzle is used currently in rocket, missile, and satellite control systems worldwide. It is taught in universities that offer Aerospace Engineering, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),California Institute of Technology (CalTech), and Georgia Institute of Technology.
During his career, he also worked on aerodynamic and fluid dynamic design projects, such as chemical lasers, the space shuttle main engines scramjet and aerospike rocket engines, and wind-powered generators.
On June 24, 1918, Rao was born in Rajahmundry, a small village in the Andhra Pradesh province of southeastern India. His father was a school headmaster. Rao was born into a large Brahmin household, and is related to Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao, a well-known freedom fighter for India's independence.
Rao attended Madras Engineering College, and then came to the United States, where he received his D.Sc. in Aeronautical Engineering from New York University in 1949.
He met and married Mary Fabrizio in New York, and they subsequently moved to Bangalore, India. Rao and Mary returned to America after their first son, Raman was born. Rao then worked at General Electric. Their second son, Krishna was born, and the family subsequently moved to Woodland Hills, California. In 1976, the Raos moved to Thousand Oaks. Rao died at the age of 86 on May 27, 2005.
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