New Delhi:

The new ISRO chief V Narayanan said India will fly humans to space by 2026 as part of the Gaganyaan mission. Gaganyaan envisages launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 kilometres for a three-days-long mission and bring them back safely to earth, by landing in Indian sea waters.

Speaking to NDTV, Dr Narayanan said that Gaganyaan is a high priority project for ISRO and that the rocket that will ferry Gaganyatris is now human-rated. Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the four astronauts who have been selected for the Gaganyaan Mission – Prashanth Nair, Angad Prathap, Ajit Krishnan, and Shubhanshu Shukla.

Adding that a Bharatiya Antriksh Station will be in place by 2035, he said that India has a clear road map for space developments till 2047. Further, an Indian will land on the Moon by 2040, Dr Narayanan said a day before he will step in as the new ISRO chief.

Credited with developing the cryogenic engine technology when it was denied to India, Dr Narayanan said it is very hard to master. Before the Department of Space chose him as current ISRO chief S Somanath’s successor, Dr Narayanan was the Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at ISRO. On the day of the announcement of his elevation, he told NDTV from Thiruvananthapuram, “We have a clear roadmap for India and I hope to take ISRO to greater heights as we have great talent.”

He led the human rating of the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) or the Bahubali rocket, which will fly humans into space. LVM3 is configured as a three stage vehicle with two solid strap-on motors (S200), one liquid core stage (L110) and a high thrust cryogenic upper stage (C25). The S200 solid motor is among the largest solid boosters in the world with 204 tonnes of solid propellant.

In September last year, the Union Cabinet had approved the Chandrayaan-4 mission to the Moon. This mission aims to develop and demonstrate technologies to return to Earth after a successful lunar landing, as well as collect and analyse Moon samples on Earth. The Chandrayaan-4 mission will achieve foundational technologies and capabilities needed for an eventual Indian landing on the Moon (planned by 2040) and a safe return to Earth. Key technologies for docking, undocking, landing, safe return, and lunar sample collection and analysis will be demonstrated.

In the latest from ISRO, two Indian satellites came as close as three metres on Sunday in a trial attempt for space docking and then moved back, the Indian space agency said. “A trial attempt to reach up to 15 m and further to 3 m is done. Moving back spacecrafts to safe distance. The docking process will be done after analysing data further,” the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said in its latest update on the Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) mission, which aims to achieve an “exciting handshake” in space.

The first big news from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the New Year seems to have an in-built element of surprise in it. On January 7, V. Narayanan, a rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, who heads the ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, was named successor to S. Somanath, the current chairman of the space agency.

The face of ISRO since January 2022, Mr. Somanath is highly regarded, cutting a dynamic and impressive figure, especially with the younger ISRO hands. Insider-speak is that many within the organisation were expecting his term to be extended. Comparisons with his predecessor will be par for the course when Mr. Narayanan, who joined the ISRO 40 years ago, eases into the top spot on January 14.

The change of guard is happening at a critical moment for ISRO, now guided by the Space Vision 2047. On the one hand, a series of high-profile missions are in the works; the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, the Chandrayaan-4 lunar mission, the development of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station — India’s own space station — and landing an Indian on the moon by 2040, to name a few. On the other, the Indian space sector is in a state of flux, with the Space Policy, 2023 opening it up to private players.

Ever since the first U.S.-made Nike-Apache sounding rocket lifted off from Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, in November 1963, the Indian space programme has largely remained a jealously-guarded government concern.

To his credit, Mr. Narayanan is someone who knows the ins and outs of the ISRO, having joined the space agency’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram in 1984, where he worked on solid propulsion. He moved to the LPSC in 1989 to work on cryogenic propulsion and has remained there since, initially playing his part, and in subsequent years taking the lead role, in the propulsion aspects of ISRO missions.

As LPSC Director, Mr. Narayanan was currently leading the development of propulsion systems for the Gaganyaan programme when he was named the next Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman, Space Commission, for a period of two years.

Success story

In many ways, his is the quintessential hard-won-success tale, the kind that parents in post-Independence India loved to inspire their children with.

Hailing from a humble background at Melakattuvilai, a village in Kanniyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, young Narayanan attended a nearby Tamil-medium school. Teachers announcing Neil Armstrong’s successful 1969 moon landing is part of his childhood memories. The eldest of six children, Mr. Narayanan had a penchant for hard work and emerged as the school topper in Class X. He subsequently obtained his M.Tech. in cryogenic engineering in 1989 with a first rank from the IIT, Kharagpur. He took his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering in 2001.

At the ISRO, he has contributed to major missions and projects, including the Chandrayaan series and the successful development of the cryogenic upper stage for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

The LPSC website describes him as “one of the few cryogenic members who have worked in this area from the beginning, carrying out fundamental research, theoretical and experimental studies and contributing to the successful development and testing of cryogenic sub systems”.

Appointed LPSC director in January 2018, Mr. Narayanan has been overseeing the development of propulsion systems for the Gaganyaan programme and the R&D into semi-cryogenic, liquid oxygen-methane and electric propulsion systems for future space exploration. Among other things, he played a critical role in finalising the 2017-2037 Propulsion Road Map of ISRO. One of the tried-and-tested hands of the space agency, Mr. Narayanan comes across as affable and polite. Within the ISRO community, he is viewed as hard-working and tenacious, as someone who gets things done. That his long career has largely been confined to LPSC is seen by some as a disadvantage, given the fast-evolving, multispeciality nature of present-day space-tech.

Many of the past chairpersons have headed multiple ISRO facilities such the LPSC and VSSC before moving on to the Bengaluru headquarters.

To his advantage, Mr. Narayanan has experience on his side. In the changing, competition-driven global space ecosystem, ISRO has the added responsibility of hand-holding Indian space-tech startups and driving industry participation. As its next Chairman, Mr. Narayanan faces the task of steering the space agency through challenging and happening times.

The first big news from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the New Year seems to have an in-built element of surprise in it. On January 7, V. Narayanan, a rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, who heads the ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, was named successor to S. Somanath, the current chairman of the space agency.

The face of ISRO since January 2022, Mr. Somanath is highly regarded, cutting a dynamic and impressive figure, especially with the younger ISRO hands. Insider-speak is that many within the organisation were expecting his term to be extended. Comparisons with his predecessor will be par for the course when Mr. Narayanan, who joined the ISRO 40 years ago, eases into the top spot on January 14.

The change of guard is happening at a critical moment for ISRO, now guided by the Space Vision 2047. On the one hand, a series of high-profile missions are in the works; the Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme, the Chandrayaan-4 lunar mission, the development of the Bharatiya Antariksha Station — India’s own space station — and landing an Indian on the moon by 2040, to name a few. On the other, the Indian space sector is in a state of flux, with the Space Policy, 2023 opening it up to private players.

Ever since the first U.S.-made Nike-Apache sounding rocket lifted off from Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram, in November 1963, the Indian space programme has largely remained a jealously-guarded government concern.

To his credit, Mr. Narayanan is someone who knows the ins and outs of the ISRO, having joined the space agency’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram in 1984, where he worked on solid propulsion. He moved to the LPSC in 1989 to work on cryogenic propulsion and has remained there since, initially playing his part, and in subsequent years taking the lead role, in the propulsion aspects of ISRO missions.

As LPSC Director, Mr. Narayanan was currently leading the development of propulsion systems for the Gaganyaan programme when he was named the next Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman, Space Commission, for a period of two years.

Success story

In many ways, his is the quintessential hard-won-success tale, the kind that parents in post-Independence India loved to inspire their children with.

Hailing from a humble background at Melakattuvilai, a village in Kanniyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, young Narayanan attended a nearby Tamil-medium school. Teachers announcing Neil Armstrong’s successful 1969 moon landing is part of his childhood memories. The eldest of six children, Mr. Narayanan had a penchant for hard work and emerged as the school topper in Class X. He subsequently obtained his M.Tech. in cryogenic engineering in 1989 with a first rank from the IIT, Kharagpur. He took his Ph.D. in aerospace engineering in 2001.

At the ISRO, he has contributed to major missions and projects, including the Chandrayaan series and the successful development of the cryogenic upper stage for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).

The LPSC website describes him as “one of the few cryogenic members who have worked in this area from the beginning, carrying out fundamental research, theoretical and experimental studies and contributing to the successful development and testing of cryogenic sub systems”.

Appointed LPSC director in January 2018, Mr. Narayanan has been overseeing the development of propulsion systems for the Gaganyaan programme and the R&D into semi-cryogenic, liquid oxygen-methane and electric propulsion systems for future space exploration. Among other things, he played a critical role in finalising the 2017-2037 Propulsion Road Map of ISRO. One of the tried-and-tested hands of the space agency, Mr. Narayanan comes across as affable and polite. Within the ISRO community, he is viewed as hard-working and tenacious, as someone who gets things done. That his long career has largely been confined to LPSC is seen by some as a disadvantage, given the fast-evolving, multispeciality nature of present-day space-tech.

Many of the past chairpersons have headed multiple ISRO facilities such the LPSC and VSSC before moving on to the Bengaluru headquarters.

To his advantage, Mr. Narayanan has experience on his side. In the changing, competition-driven global space ecosystem, ISRO has the added responsibility of hand-holding Indian space-tech startups and driving industry participation. As its next Chairman, Mr. Narayanan faces the task of steering the space agency through challenging and happening times.

New Delhi:

Rocket scientist V Narayanan will take over the mantle from current Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chief S Somanath on January 14. His elevation was announced by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

Here some some key points about his academic and ISRO journey:

• Mr Narayanan completed his M Tech in Cryogenic Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur, where he was awarded a Silver Medal for achieving the first rank in the M Tech programme.
• The rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert joined ISRO in 1984 and rose through the ranks.
• He had earlier worked in the Solid Propulsion area of Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• Mr Narayanan played a key role in India’s development of the cryogenic engine, a technology that was denied to the country.
• He further contributed to the process planning, process control and realisation of Ablative nozzle systems, composite motor cases and composite Igniter cases.
• Among his recent successes was when he headed the Failure Analysis Commitee for Chandrayaan 2, the mission in which the Vikram Lander crash landed. After he found a solution, Chandrayaan 3 became a glorious success when India Vikram safely landed at Shiv Shakti Point.
• Mr Narayanan is the head of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) in Kerala’s Valiamala since 2018. The centre is engaged in the development of liquid, semi cryogenic and cryogenic propulsion stages for launch vehicles, chemical and electric propulsion systems for satellites, control systems for launch vehicles, and transducers development for space systems health monitoring.
• Mr Narayanan is now a distinguished scientist (APEX Scale) and seniormost director in ISRO.
• He is also the Chairman of the Project Management Council-Space Transportation System (PMC-STS), the decision-making body in all launch vehicle projects and programmes
• He is the Chairman of the National Level Human Rated Certification Board (HRCB) for Gaganyaan, India’s planned human spaceflight mission.
• During his two-year tenure as ISRO chief, he will also be the Chairman of the Space Commission.
• Speaking to NDTV from Thiruvananthapuram, the newly appointed ISRO chief said, “We have a clear roadmap for India and I hope to take ISRO to greater heights as we have great talent.”

Dr. V. Narayanan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), ISRO, Valiamala, during an interview with “The Hindu” in Thiruvananthapuram.
| Photo Credit: M. PERIASAMY

Dr. V. Narayanan has been appointed the new Space Secretary. Dr. Narayanan, who is currently the Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), will also be the new ISRO Chairman and he will take over from incumbent S. Somanath from January 14.

“The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet has approved appointment of V. Narayanan, Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Valiamala as Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman, Space Commission for a period of two years with effect from 14.01.2025, or until further orders, whichever is earlier,” stated an order from Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, Ministry of Personnel and Training.

Dr. Narayanan, who is a rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, joined the ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities before becoming director of the LPSC.

During the initial phase of his career he worked in the Solid Propulsion area of Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). He has also contributed significantly for ISRO’s Geosynchronous launch vehicles namely GSLV Mk-II & GSLV Mk-III.

“As the Chairman of the National Expert Committee constituted to study the reasons for hardlanding of Chandrayaan-2 landership, contributed in pinpointing the reasons and corrective actions required to overcome the observations. Realised and delivered all the Propulsion Systems for Chandrayaan-3,” states Dr. Narayanan’s profile.

He takes over from Mr. Somanath who oversaw landmark launches like Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L1 and first developmental flight of the Gaganyaan mission.

New Delhi:

The Centre has appointed V Narayanan as the new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation and secretary, Department of Space. Mr Narayanan will take over from S Somanath, the current head of the organisation, on January 14.

In a notification on Tuesday, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet said Mr Narayanan, who is the head of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala, will have a tenure of two years. 

Mr Narayanan is a distinguished scientist (APEX Scale) and seniormost director in ISRO. The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, which he heads, is engaged in the development of liquid, semi cryogenic and cryogenic propulsion stages for launch vehicles, chemical and electric propulsion systems for satellites, control systems for launch vehicles, and transducers development for space systems health monitoring. 

He is also the chairman of the Project Management Council-Space Transportation System (PMC-STS), the decision-making body in all launch vehicle projects and programmes, and the chairman of the National Level Human Rated Certification Board (HRCB) for Gaganyaan, India’s planned human spaceflight mission. 

Having studied in Tamil medium schools, the new ISRO chief completed his M Tech in Cryogenic Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur, where he was awarded a Silver Medal for achieving the first rank in the M Tech programme. The rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert joined ISRO in 1984 and rose through the ranks to become the director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in 2018.

S Somanath took over as the ISRO chief on January 2022 and it was under him that India became the first country in the world to land a rover in the south pole region of the Moon. It also joined an elite club of countries to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, after the US, the former Soviet Union, and China.