BENGALURU: V Narayanan, who pioneered India’s cryogenic engine technology during international technology denial regimes, has assumed charge as the new secretary of the Department of Space and chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro).
He took charge from Somanath, whose tenure ended January 14, in the afternoon of January 13. Narayanan’s appointment marks the elevation of a scientist who played a pivotal role in transforming India’s space capabilities, particularly in rocket propulsion systems.
His leadership credentials were firmly established through his instrumental role in India’s historic Chandrayaan missions. As the lead engineer, he spearheaded the development of the L110 Liquid Stage and C25 Cryogenic Stage for the LVM3 vehicle, which were crucial for both Chandrayaan-2 and Chandrayaan-3 missions.
His expertise proved particularly valuable when, as Chairman of the National Level Expert Committee, he precisely identified the causes behind Chandrayaan-2’s hard landing and recommended crucial improvements that ultimately led to Chandrayaan-3’s historic success, making India the first nation to achieve a soft landing near the Moon’s south pole.
His contributions extend beyond lunar missions. Narayanan’s technical acumen was evident in the successful Aditya-L1 mission, where he led teams in developing critical stages of the PSLV-C57 launch vehicle and the sophisticated propulsion system that guided India’s first solar observatory to the Sun-Earth L1 point.
He also made contributions to the human spaceflight programme, Gaganyaan. Under his leadership, Isro successfully developed and delivered a new cryogenic stage (C32) for the first Gaganyaan mission. He is also overseeing the development of next-generation propulsion technologies, including a 200-tonne thrust LOX-Kerosene Semi Cryogenic Rocket System and a 110T thrust LOX-Methane engine for future launch vehicles.
The new chairman’s expertise will be crucial for upcoming missions, including the Venus Orbiter, Chandrayaan-4, and the recently approved Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS). His career has been recognised with numerous accolades, including the APJ Abdul Kalam Award 2023 and the 2024 Laurels for Team Achievement from the International Academy of Astronautics.
Narayanan’s appointment comes at a crucial time as Isro embarks on increasingly ambitious projects. His extensive experience in propulsion systems and proven track record in mission-critical situations positions him well to lead India’s space agency into its next phase of exploration and innovation.
