V. NARAYANAN
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) • Chairman
Dr. V. Narayanan, Distinguished Scientist (Apex Grade), assumed the charge of Secretary, Department of Space, Chairman, Space Commission and Chairman, ISRO on the afternoon of 13th January, 2025. Prior to this, he served as Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), one of the major Centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with its headquarters at Valiamala in Thiruvananthapuram and a unit at Bangalore. As Director, he provided techno-managerial leadership to LPSC, which 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 Transducer development for propulsion system health monitoring.
Dr. V. Narayanan, who is a Rocket & Spacecraft Propulsion Expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities. During the initial phase, for 4½ years, he worked in the Solid Propulsion area of Sounding Rockets and Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV) and Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). He contributed to process planning, process control and realization of Ablative nozzle systems, Composite motor cases and Composite Igniter cases.
In 1989, he completed his M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering with First Rank at IIT-Kharagpur and joined the Cryogenic Propulsion area in Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). ISRO's Geosynchronous launch vehicles, namely GSLV Mk-II & GSLV Mk-III, capable of placing 2-Tonne & 4-Tonne class Communication Satellites in Geo Transfer Orbit, have Cryogenic Propulsion Stages as terminal stages.
As one of the few Cryogenic members working in this area in the beginning, he carried out fundamental research, theoretical & experimental studies and contributed to the successful development and testing of Cryogenic subsystems, namely Gas Generator, Sub-scale Cryogenic engine of 1-tonne thrust and Thrust Chamber of 12-tonne thrust.
Considering the long lead time required for the development of the Cryogenic stage of GSLV Mk-II vehicle, for meeting the initial flights, a few cryogenic stage hardware were procured from Russia. As an expert in Cryogenic propulsion, he contributed to the development of mission management systems, contract management and the successful flights of the GSLV Mk-II vehicle with procured cryogenic stages.
For the sustained operation of GSLV Mk-II, initially, ISRO planned for technology acquisition of the Cryo Stage for manufacturing in India. However, due to geopolitical reasons, the technology acquisition did not succeed and ISRO decided to develop CUS indigenously. Dr. V. Narayanan played a crucial role in the successful development of the Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) and contributed to making it operational for the GSLV Mk-II vehicle.
For the GSLV Mk-III Experimental mission with CARE module, he conceived and realized the Passive Cryogenic Stage and contributed to the successful experimental flight. As the Project Director of the C25 Cryogenic Project, he provided techno-managerial leadership, conceived, designed and developed the 25-tonne Cryogenic Propulsion System of the GSLV Mk-III Launch Vehicle powered by an engine developing a thrust of 200kN. He contributed to establishing the necessary infrastructure and facilities for design, analysis, realization, testing and launching. Due to his innovative approach, the C25 Cryo Stage was developed under his guidance in the shortest time frame with all successful tests and was inducted into the GSLV Mk-III vehicle. Subsequently, he also made the stage operational.
His contribution made India one among six countries in the world to have complex and high-performance cryogenic propulsion systems, achieving self-reliance in this area.
Parallelly, he completed his Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur in 2001. The work carried out as part of his M.Tech thesis titled "Cavitating Venturies for Flow Control in Cryogenic Rocket Engines" and Ph.D. thesis titled "Thrust and Mixture Ratio Regulation Systems for Cryogenic Rocket Engines" were directly employed in the development of Indian Cryogenic Propulsion Systems.
For the GSLV Mk-III M1/Chandrayaan-2 Mission, the L110 Liquid Core Stage and C25 Cryogenic Stage were delivered for the vehicle. Propulsion systems for the Orbiter and Vikram lander, which include the throttleable thrusters for soft landing, were also developed and delivered for the Chandrayaan-2 Mission under his guidance. As the Chairman of the National Expert Committee constituted to study the reasons for the hard landing of the Chandrayaan-2 lander, he contributed to pinpointing the reasons and corrective actions required to overcome the observations. He realised and delivered all the Propulsion Systems for Chandrayaan-3.
For the Indian Human Space Flight (Gaganyaan) programme, he worked on the Human Rating of C25 and L110 liquid stages of the LVM3 vehicle and successfully delivered the stages for maiden Gaganyaan mission. The development of Propulsion modules for the Crew module & Service module and the Cabin pressure control systems, Thermal & humidity control systems are completed. The propulsion stage for the Test Vehicle was successfully developed and demonstrated in TVD1 mission. To enhance the GTO payload capability of the LVM3 vehicle and meet future Indian Heavy Lift Rockets' requirements, he guided the team and designed a LOX-Kerosene Semi-Cryogenic Propulsion System and provided techno-managerial leadership for its development. He also took up the development of improving the C25 Cryogenic stage performance with higher propellant (32 tonnes of LOX & LH2) loading with a higher thrust (22-tonne) engine and successfully completed the project. His team is also developing a 1100kN thrust LOX-CH4 Engine and 300mN and lower power Electric Propulsion thrusters. He has also made significant contributions in the Spacecraft Propulsion area.
He contributed as a Member of two Failure Analysis Committees (FACs) of GSLV Mk-II D3 and GSLV Mk-II F02 vehicles and as Member Secretary of the First Indian Cryogenic Upper Stage Engine FAC. Dr. Narayanan was a member of ISRO's 12th Five-Year Plan Drafting Group and contributed to finalizing the propulsion system development during the 12th FYP. He also finalized the Propulsion Road Map of ISRO for the next 20 years (2017–2037). As Director of LPSC, during the last 7 years, he has delivered 226 liquid propulsion systems for launch vehicle and spacecraft missions. He also contributed in pursuing R&D activities and infrastructure development in Liquid Propulsion area. Dr. V Narayanan, was also the Chairman of LPSC-IPRC Co-ordination Committee and Chairman of Programme Management Council - Space Transportation Systems.
Dr. Narayanan is an Alumni of Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and has taken his M.Tech. with First Rank in Cryogenic Engineering in the year 1989 and Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering in the year 2001. He is a recipient of Silver Medal from IIT Kharagpur for First Rank in M.Tech, Gold Medal from Astronautical Society of India (ASI), ASI Award for Rocket and Related Technologies, Team Award from High Energy Materials Society of India, Outstanding achievement & Performance Excellence Awards and Team Excellence Awards of ISRO. He is also awarded Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from Sathyabama University, Chennai. He has been awarded with the Distinguished Alumnus Award-2018 by IIT, Kharagpur, National Design Award-2019 from National Design & Research Forum of Institution of Engineers (India) and National Aeronautical Prize-2019 from Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI).
Dr. Narayanan is a Member of International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), Fellow of Indian National Academy of Engineering, Member of Space Propulsion Committee of International Astronautical Federation, National President of Indian Society of Systems for Science and Engineering (ISSE), Fellow of Institution of Engineers (India), Fellow of Indian Cryogenic Council, Fellow of Aeronautical Society of India, Served as member of INAE Governing Council and Member in various National and International Professional Bodies. He is also serving as a Member of Governing Council and Board of Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and Academic Council Member of some of the Engineering Colleges.
Dr. Narayanan has published many technical papers (Internal Reports: 1200, Journal/conference papers: 50 and Book chapters: 3). Delivered a large number of keynote speeches and ten convocation addresses in Engineering institutions including IITs and NITs.