Dr. V. Narayanan, an esteemed Indian aerospace engineer and rocket technologist, has been appointed as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He will also assume the roles of Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman, Space Commission, for a two-year term starting January 14, 2025.
Currently serving as the Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Dr. Narayanan has played a pivotal role in developing advanced propulsion technologies, including liquid, semi-cryogenic, and cryogenic propulsion systems for launch vehicles, as well as chemical and electric propulsion systems for satellites.
Hailing from Melakattu village near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu, Dr. Narayanan holds an M.Tech. in Cryogenic Engineering and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from IIT Kharagpur, where he excelled with First Rank in his postgraduate studies.
Describing his appointment as “a great responsibility,” Dr. Narayanan emphasized his dedication to strengthening India’s space capabilities and advancing its technological frontiers.
He succeeds S. Somanath, under whose leadership ISRO became more accessible and youth-focused since 2022.
Looking ahead, Dr. Narayanan aims to position India as a major player in the global commercial space sector, with a vision to capture a $40 billion market share by 2040.
This leadership transition marks a new chapter in India’s space journey, promising innovation, strategic growth, and global collaboration in the years to come.
