Chennai, Jan 8, 2025: The Union Government has officially announced the appointment of distinguished space scientist and Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) Valiamala Director V Narayanan as the new Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet made this decision public on Tuesday evening, according to reports received here.
Mr. Narayanan will take over from the current ISRO Chief, S Somanath, starting January 14. According to the notification issued by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions, his tenure will span two years or until further orders, whichever comes earlier.
This announcement is significant, as it marks a departure from tradition. Historically, the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) has ascended to the role of ISRO Chairman. For the first time, the Director of LPSC has been elevated to this prestigious position, underscoring Mr. Narayanan’s exceptional contributions to India’s space program.
During his tenure, Mr. Somanath has been instrumental in steering ISRO to several landmark achievements. These include the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission, which achieved a soft landing on the Moon’s uncharted South Polar region, making India the first nation to accomplish this feat. Additionally, he oversaw the launch of the Aditya-L1 mission, India’s first solar observatory to study the Sun, and the pioneering space docking experiment SpaDeX, which involved the successful launch of two satellites—Chaser and Target—to demonstrate space docking technology.
ISRO recently announced that the space docking process for SpaDeX is scheduled to begin at 8:00 AM on January 9, 2025. Sharing the update on its official social media platform, the agency stated:
“Watch the SpaDeX Docking Event Programme. Date: 9th January 2025. Time: 8:00 AM onwards.”
Mr. Narayanan’s appointment has been widely celebrated within the scientific community. Renowned for his expertise in propulsion systems, he has played a vital role in advancing India’s cryogenic and semi-cryogenic engine technologies. His efforts have significantly enhanced the nation’s satellite launch capabilities, allowing for greater payload capacities and improving mission success rates.
As Director of LPSC, Mr. Narayanan has been at the forefront of developing critical propulsion technologies that underpin India’s launch vehicles, satellites, and interplanetary missions. His elevation to ISRO Chief signals a renewed focus on innovation and expanding India’s influence in global space exploration.
With Mr. Narayanan at the helm, ISRO is expected to build on its recent successes while pursuing ambitious future missions. These include Gaganyaan, India’s first human spaceflight program, and an exploration mission to Venus, which aims to unlock the mysteries of Earth’s closest planetary neighbor.
Under Mr. Narayanan’s leadership, ISRO is poised to continue its trajectory of groundbreaking achievements and technological advancements, further strengthening India’s position as a leading spacefaring nation.
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