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Dr. V. Narayanan, a rocket propulsion expert, has been appointed as the new Space Secretary and ISRO Chairman, taking over from S. Somanath on January 14, 2025. Discover his journey and contributions to India’s space program.
Introduction
Dr. V. Narayanan, the current Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), has been appointed as the new Space Secretary and ISRO Chairman. He will take over from the incumbent, S. Somanath, from January 14, 2025.
Career Highlights
A rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, Dr. Narayanan joined ISRO in 1984. He has held various key positions within the organization, significantly contributing to ISRO’s advancements.
Contributions to ISRO
Initially, Dr. Narayanan worked in the Solid Propulsion area of Sounding Rockets and the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). He has played a crucial role in the development of ISRO’s Geosynchronous launch vehicles, GSLV Mk-II and GSLV Mk-III.
Leadership in Chandrayaan Missions
As the Chairman of the National Expert Committee for Chandrayaan-2, Dr. Narayanan identified the reasons for the hard landing and recommended corrective actions. He also delivered all Propulsion Systems for Chandrayaan-3.
Taking Over from S. Somanath
Dr. Narayanan succeeds Mr. Somanath, who oversaw landmark missions such as Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L1, and the first developmental flight of the Gaganyaan mission.
