V. Narayanan to Take Over as Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

• V. Narayanan, a rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, will take over as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 14, following the retirement of S. Somanath.

• The space agency is in a reform mode, with major projects such as the Gaganyaan human spaceflight, the Chandrayaan-4 mission, and the development of the country’s own space station.

• Dr. Narayanan, who has been heading the ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre since 2018, described his upcoming assignment as a “great responsibility” and a “great opportunity to follow in the footsteps of stalwarts who led the ISRO over the decades.”

• ISRO’s to-do list includes the Chandrayaan-4 moon mission, the development of the space station, Bharatiya Antariksha Station, a second mission to Mars, and the maiden Venus Orbiter Mission.

• The Appointments Committee of the Union Cabinet has decided that Dr. Narayanan will take over as Secretary, Department of Space, and Chairman, Space Commission, “for a period of two years” from January 14.

• Dr. Narayanan emphasized the importance of increasing India’s presence in space and the role of space sector reforms set in motion by opening it up to private players.

• He emphasized the importance of collaboration with other space agencies and the need for India to expand its share in the global economy from 2% to 10%.