Dr. V. Narayanan, born in 1964 in Melakattu village near Nagercoil in Kanyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, is a distinguished Indian aerospace engineer and rocket propulsion expert. He has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), set to assume the role on January 14, 2025, succeeding S. Somanath.
Education and Early Career:
Dr. Narayanan completed his early education in his hometown, earning a First Rank in the Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (DME). He further obtained an Associate Membership in Mechanical Engineering from the Institution of Engineers (AMIE). Pursuing higher studies, he achieved a Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Cryogenic Engineering with First Rank from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur in 1989, earning a Silver Medal for his performance. He later completed his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the same institution in 2001.
Before joining ISRO, Dr. Narayanan gained industrial experience working with companies such as TI Diamond Chain Ltd., Madras Rubber Factory, and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) in Trichy and Ranipet. In 1984, he commenced his career at ISRO, contributing initially to the development of Solid Propulsion Systems for the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and the Rohini Sounding Rockets.
Contributions to ISRO:
Throughout his tenure at ISRO, Dr. Narayanan has held various significant positions, notably serving as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) since January 2018. In this capacity, he provided techno-managerial leadership for the development of Liquid, Semi-Cryogenic, and Cryogenic Propulsion Stages for Launch Vehicles, as well as Chemical and Electric Propulsion Systems for Satellites.
As the Project Director for the C25 Cryogenic Project of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III), Dr. Narayanan led the team that successfully developed the C25 Cryogenic Stage, powered by a 20-tonne thrust engine using Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen. This achievement was pivotal in the successful launch of the GSLV Mk III vehicle in its maiden attempt, marking India’s entry into the league of nations with advanced cryogenic technology.
Under his guidance, LPSC developed propulsion systems for critical missions, including Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3. He chaired the National Level Expert Committee that analyzed the Chandrayaan-2 landing and recommended improvements, contributing to the success of Chandrayaan-3. Additionally, he has been instrumental in the Gaganyaan program, India’s human spaceflight mission, overseeing the development of human-rated propulsion systems and the successful demonstration of the crew escape system.
Awards and Recognitions:
Dr. Narayanan’s contributions have been recognized with several awards, including:
– Silver Medal from IIT Kharagpur for First Rank in M.Tech.
– Gold Medal from the Astronautical Society of India (ASI).
– ASI Award for Rocket and Related Technologies.
– Performance Excellence Award and Team Excellence Awards from ISRO.
– National Design Award from the National Design and Research Forum of Engineers (India).
– National Aeronautical Prize from the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI).
He is also a Fellow of several prestigious institutions, including the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineers (India), the Indian Cryogenic Council, the Aeronautical Society of India, and the Astronautical Society of India. His leadership is expected to steer ISRO toward new achievements, further solidifying India’s position in the global space arena.
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