V Narayanan

In this Indian name, the name V is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Narayanan.

Dr. V. Narayanan
Dr. V. Narayanan at the celebration of diamond jubilee of first sounding rocket launch.
11th Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 January 2025 (2025-01-14)
Preceded by	S. Somanath
Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre
In office 23 January 2018 – 13 January 2025
Preceded by	S. Somanath
Personal details
Born	1964 (age 60–61) Nagercoil, Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma mater	IIT, Khargpur (M.Tech. in Cryogenic Engineering) IIT, Khargpur (PhD in Aerospace Engineering)

V. Narayanan (born 1964) is an Indian aerospace engineer and rocket technologist. He is currently the Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Thiruvananthapuram. He has been appointed as the new Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation with effect from 14th January 2025. Narayanan is set to succeed S. Somanath as the next Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He is set to lead the organisation when there is the ongoing development of various progammes like Gaganyaan, Chandrayaan-4 and the launch of India's first space station.

Narayanan will take over as Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission, for a tenure of two years with effect from January 14, 2025.

Early Life and Education

Narayanan was born in Melakattuvilai village near Nagercoil in Kanyakumari District, Tamilnadu to a farming family. He earned his MTech degree in Cryogenic Engineering with First Rank from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur in 1989 and later completed his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the same institution in 2001.

Career

Narayanan joined ISRO in 1984, initially working in the Solid Propulsion area for Sounding Rockets, Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicles (ASLV), and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV) at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). He contributed to process planning, control, and realization of ablative nozzle systems, composite motor cases, and composite igniter cases.

In 1989, after completing his M.Tech., he transitioned to the Cryogenic Propulsion area at the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). Narayanan played a crucial role in the development of India's cryogenic propulsion systems, contributing to the successful development and testing of sub-systems such as gas generators, sub-scale cryogenic engines, and thrust chambers. His efforts were instrumental in making India one of the few countries with indigenous cryogenic propulsion technology.

As the Project Director of the C25 Cryogenic Project, Narayanan provided techno-managerial leadership in designing and developing the C25 Cryogenic Propulsion System for the GSLV Mk-III Launch Vehicle. Under his guidance, the system was developed in a short time frame and successfully inducted into the GSLV Mk-III vehicle.

In 2018, he became the Director of LPSC, overseeing the development of liquid, semi-cryogenic, and cryogenic propulsion stages for launch vehicles, as well as chemical and electric propulsion systems for satellites. During his tenure, LPSC delivered 183 liquid propulsion systems for 41 launch vehicles and 31 spacecraft missions over seven years.

Awards and Honors

Narayanan has received several accolades, including the Silver Medal from IIT Kharagpur for First Rank in M.Tech., the Gold Medal from the Astronautical Society of India (ASI), and the ASI Award for Rocket and Related Technologies. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineers (India), the Indian Cryogenic Council, and the Aeronautical Society of India.