Dr. V Narayanan to succeed S. Somanath as ISRO Chairman

Dr. V Narayanan, a veteran scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will take over as chairman on January 14, 2025, succeeding S. Somanath. Currently the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Dr. Narayanan has been a cornerstone of India’s space program for nearly four decades.

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Joining ISRO in 1984, Dr. Narayanan has made groundbreaking contributions to rocket and spacecraft propulsion. As Project Director for the C25 Cryogenic Project of the GSLV Mk III, he led the successful development of the C25 Stage, a critical component in India’s heavy-lift launch vehicle. Under his leadership, LPSC delivered 183 propulsion systems for missions like Chandrayaan-2, Chandrayaan-3, and the Aditya Spacecraft.

An IIT Kharagpur alumnus with a PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Dr. Narayanan has been honored with several awards, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. His vision for ISRO includes advancing human spaceflight and next-generation launch vehicles.

As ISRO chief, he will oversee key missions like Chandrayaan-4, the Gaganyaan human spaceflight program, Mangalyaan-2, and the Venus mission, alongside efforts to develop reusable launch vehicles. With his extensive expertise, Dr. Narayanan is poised to lead ISRO into a new era of innovation and global leadership in space exploration.