V. Narayanan Appointed as the New Chairman of ISRO
In a significant development, the Centre has appointed V. Narayanan as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space. Narayanan will take charge on January 14, succeeding the current ISRO chairman, S. Somanath.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) approved Narayanan’s appointment for a tenure of two years or until further orders, as per an official communication from the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Narayanan is a distinguished scientist with nearly four decades of expertise in rocket and spacecraft propulsion systems. He is currently the Director of ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala, Kerala, a critical unit of the space agency focusing on liquid propulsion systems for launch vehicles and spacecraft.
Joining ISRO in 1984, Narayanan has held various roles, contributing extensively to India's space program. In his early years, he worked on solid propulsion systems for sounding rockets and launch vehicles such as the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). He played a pivotal role in the development of ablative nozzle systems, composite motor cases, and composite igniter cases.
Under his leadership at LPSC, the centre has continued to drive advancements in propulsion technologies, essential for India’s ambitious space missions.
The government order described Narayanan as a 'Rocket and Space Craft Propulsion Expert' and acknowledged his vast contributions to the Indian space program. His appointment is expected to further strengthen ISRO’s capabilities and pave the way for future milestones in India's space exploration efforts.