Cryogenic tech expert next ISRO Chairman
Cryogenic engine expert V Narayanan has been appointed the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Secretary of the Department of Space for two years. Narayanan will take over from current ISRO chief S Somanath on January 14.
Somanath had assumed charge as the Secretary, Department of Space, on January 14, 2022, for a three-year term. He became the toast of the nation after the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission when India became the first country in the world to land a rover in the South Pole region of the moon.
Narayanan is currently serving as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, ISRO, at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. A pioneer in cryogenic propulsion, Narayanan will steer India’s journey to excellence in space exploration, including the high-profile Gaganyaan mission, the human spaceflight programme of ISRO.
Narayanan, who will also be the chairman, Space Commission, played a key role in the development of the indigenous cryogenic engine, a technology that was denied to the country by Russia following pressure from the US.
The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre headed by Narayanan is engaged in development of liquid, semi-cryogenic and cryogenic propulsion stages for launch vehicles and chemical and electric propulsion systems for satellites and control systems for launch vehicles.
Narayanan is also the chairman of the Project Management Council-Space Transportation System, the decision-making body for all launch vehicle projects and programmes.
He is also chairman of the National Level Human Rated Certification Board for Gaganyaan.
Narayanan, a native of Tamil Nadu, joined ISRO in 1984 and became the director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in 2018.
In 1989, he completed MTech in Cryogenic Engineering with first rank at IIT-Kharagpur and joined the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre.
Developed engine denied by russia
V Narayanan played a key role in the development of the indigenous cryogenic engine, a technology that was denied to the country by Russia following pressure from the US
