V Narayanan to Succeed S Somanath as ISRO Chairman

The Union government announced on Tuesday that V Narayanan will succeed S Somanath as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He will also assume the role of Secretary, Department of Space, starting January 14, 2025.

According to the order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, V Narayanan’s tenure as ISRO chief and Secretary of the Department of Space will last for two years or until further notice. The order stated:
“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved the appointment of Shri V. Narayanan, Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Valiamala, as Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission for a period of two years with effect from 14.01.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.”

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

About V Narayanan
V Narayanan, a distinguished scientist with nearly four decades of experience, is an expert in rocket and spacecraft propulsion. He joined ISRO in 1984 and has held various key positions, including his current role as the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). The LPSC, a major ISRO facility, is headquartered in Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram, with a branch in Bengaluru.

Narayanan’s early contributions were in the areas of solid propulsion for Sounding Rockets, the Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV), and the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). He also played a crucial role in process planning, process control, and the realization of ablative nozzle systems, composite motor cases, and composite igniter cases.

Recent ISRO Achievements
Under ISRO’s leadership, India recently launched SpaDex, an indigenous space docking technology essential for ambitious projects like Chandrayaan 4 and Gaganyaan. This achievement places India among an elite group of nations, including the United States, Russia, and China, capable of such advanced technology.

(With inputs from ANI)