Dr. V Narayanan Appointed as New ISRO Chief: All You Need to Know

The Union government recently named Dr. V Narayanan the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Dr Narayanan has also been named the Secretary of the Department of Space, replacing S Somanath. The appointment will be for a term of two years with effect from January 14, 2025, or until further orders.

Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of V Narayanan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Valiamala as Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission for a period of two years with effect from January 14 pic.twitter.com/DNQ8XzNydy

— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2025

A Stellar Career in Space Exploration

Dr. V. Narayanan is a respected scientist. He has spent almost four decades at ISRO, focusing on rocket and spacecraft propulsion. He joined ISRO in 1984. He worked on important projects like ASLV, PSLV, and solid propulsion systems.

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Key Contributions and Achievements

• Cryogenic Propulsion Systems: India leads in making its own cryogenic engines. This milestone puts India among the few nations with this advanced technology.
• GSLV Mk III: The C25 Cryogenics Project was created for the GSLV Mk III. This project aims to develop its key C25 stage.
• Mission-Specific Contributions: These key systems supported the Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and Aditya L1 missions.
• Leadership at LPSC: Guided the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in developing propulsion systems for 183 missions. This includes the PSLV and LVM3 launch vehicles.

Educational Background and Recognitions

He has an M. Tech in Cryogenic Engineering from IIT Kharagpur and a Ph. D. in Aerospace Engineering. He’s won many accolades for his expertise in advanced propulsion technologies:

• Academic Honors: Silver medal from IIT Kharagpur; Distinguished Alumnus Award.
• ISRO Awards: Team Excellence Awards and Performance Excellence Awards
• National Recognition: The National Design Award and the National Aeronautical Prize
• Honorary Degree: Doctor of Science at Sathyabama University.

Future of ISRO Under Dr. Narayanan’s Leadership

Dr. Narayanan, ISRO’s new chief, will lead India’s space programs. The projects include the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), Gaganyaan, and potential lunar and interplanetary missions. He is joining ISRO as it reaches new heights. Recently, ISTRO successfully trialed SpaDex, a home-grown space docking system.

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Conclusion

A New Era for India’s Space Exploration is here. With Dr. V Narayanan leading ISRO, big changes are coming. Their solid history and performance will lead the country into a fresh era of innovation and global leadership.

Under Dr. V Narayanan’s guidance, ISRO has achieved its first big milestone. On May 29, 2025, the organization launched the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) for the first time. It lifted off from Sriharikota. It carried a heavy communication satellite to geostationary orbit. India’s mission showed it can compete in the global market for heavy payload launches. Dr. Narayanan emphasized that this success is a key milestone toward ISRO’s goal of establishing a modular space station by 2035. He confirmed that the first uncrewed Gaganyaan test flight will happen in August 2025. It will feature the humanoid robot Vyommitra.