January 8, 2025: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to welcome a new leader as V Narayanan has been appointed its chairman and Secretary of the Department of Space. He will take charge from the outgoing ISRO chief, S Somanath, on January 14.

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet confirmed Mr. Narayanan’s two-year tenure in its official notification on Tuesday. Currently serving as the head of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Valiamala, Kerala, Mr. Narayanan has played a pivotal role in advancing India’s space propulsion technology, including the development of the cryogenic engine—a critical achievement in the face of international technology restrictions.

In an interview from Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Narayanan expressed his vision for ISRO’s future. “We have a clear roadmap for India, and I hope to take ISRO to greater heights as we have great talent,” he said.

A distinguished scientist and senior-most director within ISRO, Mr. Narayanan’s contributions to rocket and spacecraft propulsion have been instrumental in India’s space program. Under his leadership, LPSC has focused on developing advanced propulsion systems for launch vehicles and satellites, as well as critical technologies for space exploration and human spaceflight missions.

He also holds key positions such as Chairman of the Project Management Council-Space Transportation System (PMC-STS) and the National Level Human Rated Certification Board (HRCB) for Gaganyaan, India’s ambitious human spaceflight mission.

An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur, Mr. Narayanan completed his M Tech in Cryogenic Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering, earning a Silver Medal for his academic excellence. Joining ISRO in 1984, he rose through the ranks to lead LPSC in 2018.

His appointment comes after the highly successful tenure of S Somanath, who led ISRO to historic milestones, including India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first country to land a rover on the Moon’s south pole and joined an elite group of nations to achieve a lunar soft landing.

As the new ISRO chief, Mr. Narayanan is expected to oversee critical upcoming projects, including the Gaganyaan mission and further advancements in satellite technology, lunar exploration, and interplanetary missions.