The tenure of ISRO chief S Somnath, who gave India a historic success in the space sector through Chandrayaan-3, is ending on January 14. With his departure, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is going to get a new leader. The government on Tuesday officially announced the appointment of Dr V Narayanan as the new Chairman of ISRO.
Dr. V Narayanan: India’s new ISRO chief
Educational Background and Expertise
Dr. V Narayanan is a well-known name in the field of science and space technology. He has done PhD in Aerospace Engineering. Presently he is the Director of Liquid Propulsion System Center (LPSC). He has over four decades of experience in the Indian Space Organisation. During this time he has worked on many important projects and positions.
Dr. Narayanan has expertise in rocket and spacecraft propulsion. His achievements include leadership of the C25 cryogenic project of the GSLV Mk III vehicle, where he played a key role as the Project Director.
Dr. Narayanan’s contribution to ISRO
- Entry and initial work in ISRO
- Dr. Narayanan started his journey at ISRO in 1984.
- For the first four and a half years, he worked in the solid propulsion area of Sounding Rockets, Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC).
- Specialization in Cryogenic Engineering
- He did M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1989.
- Under his leadership LPSC manufactured 190 liquid propulsion systems and control power plants for many of ISRO’s missions.
- Major Projects
- Important contribution to the propulsion system of Aditya L-1 Mission, Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3 and GSLV Mk III.
- Chairman of the Human Rated Certification Board (HRCB) for the Gaganyaan Mission.
- Role in decisions on launch vehicle projects as Chairman of PMC-STS (Project Management Council – Space Transportation System).
- Honors and Awards
- Silver Medal from IIT Kharagpur.
- Gold Medal from Astronautical Society of India (ASI).
- National Design Award of NDRF.
- Received a total of more than 25 prestigious awards so far.
Leadership and contribution of S. Somnath
S Somnath takes charge as ISRO chief in January 2022. During his tenure, India made many major achievements in space research.
- Historic success of Chandrayaan-3:
On 23 August 2023, India became the fourth country in the world to make a soft landing on the south pole of the Moon. - Preparation for Gaganyaan Mission:
Under his leadership, India is making significant progress towards human space flight.
Expectations from the leadership of Dr. V Narayanan
Dr. Narayanan’s wide experience and technical expertise will help take ISRO to new heights.
- India’s ambitious Gaganyaan mission may get new dimensions under his leadership.
- Chandrayaan-4 and other upcoming missions will benefit from their efficient strategy.
As the new chief of ISRO, Dr Narayanan is expected to further strengthen India’s global position in space research and development.
