BENGALURU: The Government of India has appointed V Narayanan as the new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) and secretary of the Department of Space. Narayana will replace S Somanath on January 14, when the latter’s term ends.
According to an official order issued by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on January 7, 2025, Narayanan will hold the position for a period of two years.
Narayanan is currently serving as Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Center (LPSC) at Valiamala.
Narayanan, a distinguished scientist with nearly four decades of experience in rocket and spacecraft propulsion, brings substantial experience to his new role.
As director of LPSC, he played a crucial role in the development of the CE20 cryogenic engine for GSLV Mk III, a vital component of India’s space programme. Under his leadership, LPSC successfully delivered 183 liquid propulsion systems and control power plants for various Isro missions.
His illustrious career includes significant contributions to key Isro projects including the Aditya Spacecraft and GSLV Mk-III missions. His achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards including the Shri Award from the Astronautical Society of India and the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Kharagpur.
The appointment order, signed by Cabinet Secretary Manisha Saxena, has been communicated to all relevant government departments and ministries.
