V Narayanan to Lead ISRO: A New Era in Indian Space Exploration

V Narayanan Appointed ISRO Chairman: Expert in Propulsion and Cryogenics to Lead India’s Space Program Starting January 14

The distinguished scientist and propulsion expert, V Narayanan, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space. Currently serving as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), he is scheduled to take over from S Somanath on January 14, 2025, as India’s space program embarks on a new journey.

Appointment Details and Tenure
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet formally approved Narayanan’s appointment for a period of two years, or until further orders, effective January 14, 2025. He will also head the Space Commission, which is an important body in charge of India’s space programs. Narayanan’s long service to propulsion systems and his leadership qualities have made him the best person to take ISRO’s big-ticket projects forward.

A Career Spanning Excellence and Innovation
Narayanan joined ISRO in 1984, and throughout the years, he played significant roles in some of the major projects undertaken by the organization. He had been working with the team developing the Solid Propulsion Systems for Rohini Sounding Rockets and the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle in his initial years of service. His work on propulsion went on to bring him many accolades, particularly during the development of the Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS), which was developed for the GSLV Mk-II vehicle. This was a landmark achievement, accomplished at a time when the world had denied the existence of cryogenic technology.

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As the Project Director for the C25 Cryogenic Project of the GSLV Mk-III vehicle, Narayanan led the development of the C25 Cryogenic Stage, which is powered by a 20-tonne thrust engine using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. His work resulted in the successful maiden launch of the GSLV Mk-III, which established it as an operational vehicle for India’s space missions.

Academic Excellence and Awards
Narayanan is a graduate of IIT Kharagpur with an M. Tech in Cryogenic Engineering, done in 1989 with the first rank. He has subsequently done his PhD in Aerospace Engineering in 2001. In academics, some of his prizes include a silver medal from IIT Kharagpur, and a gold medal from the Astronautical Society of India (ASI).

In addition to this, he has received the prestigious Honorary Doctorate in Science from Sathyabama University, Chennai, in recognition of his innovative contributions to the field of aerospace and propulsion systems.
LPSC Leadership
As Director of LPSC since January 2018, Narayanan has been responsible for providing strategic leadership for the development of propulsion systems for launch vehicles and satellites. His work encompasses liquid, semi-cryogenic, and cryogenic propulsion stages, besides leading-edge electric propulsion technologies. During his tenure at LPSC, India’s space program has become all the more robust due to its marvelous contributions to space technology.
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With Narayanan at the helm, ISRO is likely to continue its trajectory of innovation and success. His expertise in propulsion systems coupled with his proven leadership is going to drive the organization toward achieving ambitious goals, such as deep space exploration, satellite advancements, and interplanetary missions.

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