After S. Somanath's tenure, V. Narayanan has been appointed as the new chairman of ISRO. A seasoned rocket scientist, Narayanan will lead India's space agency as it strives to achieve ambitious goals and expand its presence in the global space economy.
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| V. Narayanan, a renowned rocket scientist, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He succeeds S. Somanath and will lead India's ambitious space program, including the development of a space station and a crewed lunar mission. Rocket scientist V. Narayanan. Image Courtesy: HT |
Bengaluru, India - January 8, 2025:
India has appointed rocket scientist V. Narayanan as the new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the government announced on Tuesday. Narayanan succeeds S. Somanath, who has led the agency since 2022.
Narayanan, known for his "strict" yet effective leadership style, has a distinguished career at ISRO, spanning nearly four decades. He has played a crucial role in several key missions, including those involving the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the development of liquid propulsion systems.
His appointment comes as ISRO embarks on ambitious projects, including the establishment of an Indian space station by 2035 and a crewed lunar mission by 2040. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has set the goal of making India a significant player in the global space economy, with the government aiming to increase its share of the market from the current $8 billion to $44 billion over the next decade.
Narayanan will assume the position on January 14th for a two-year term. He previously led the analysis committee investigating the Chandrayaan-2 mission failure and played a key role in the successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first country to achieve a soft landing on the lunar south pole.