<p>Bengaluru: V Narayanan officially assumed charge as the Secretary of Department of Space and Chairman of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/isro">ISRO</a> from S Somanath on the afternoon of January 13.</p><p>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 Bengaluru.</p><p>V Narayanan, who is a Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion Expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities before becoming Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in January, 2018.</p>.<p><strong>The humble IITian<br></strong>Narayanan, hailing from a humble family background, completed his MTech in Cryogenic Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur where he was awarded a silver medal. He has also been honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 and the Life Fellowship Award 2023 by IIT, Kharagpur.</p><p>In ISRO, he has completed 40 years of service, including 7 years as Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, for which he was promoted to the highest level- Distinguished Scientist (APEX Scale). Under his leadership, LPSC delivered 226 Liquid Propulsion Systems and Control Power plants for Launch Vehicles and Satellites of ISRO.</p><p>When India was denied the Cryogenic Technology for GSLV Mk-ll vehicle, he designed the engine systems, developed necessary software tools, contributed for establishing the necessary infrastructure and test facilities, and completing the development of Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) and making it operational.</p><p>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.</p>.V Narayanan: Everything you need to know about the new ISRO Chief.<p><strong>Helmed important projects<br></strong>As Project Director for C25 Cryogenic Project of Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) vehicle, he led the team in successfully developing C25 Cryogenic Stage powered by a 20-tonne thrust Engine and played vital role in the successful launch of LVM3 vehicle in its maiden attempt and made the stage operational. </p><p>The development of Cryogenic Propulsion Systems made India one among six countries to have this capability and ensured self-reliance in Launch Vehicle.</p><p>He was the Chairman of the National Level Expert Committee which pinpointed the reasons for Chandrayaan-2 hard landing and recommended necessary improvements which eventually contributed to the success of Chandrayaan-3 and made India as the first country to soft-land near the south-pole of Moon.</p><p>Towards Human Space Flight Gaganyaan Programme, he contributed to Human Rating of LVM3 vehicle, development of human-rated cryogenic Stages, environmental control & life support system, service and crew module propulsion systems and Test vehicle for Crew escape system demonstration. As chairman of Gaganyaan Certification Board, he contributed to the certification process of various systems for human space flight.</p><p>Under his leadership, the development of a new cryogenic stage (C32) was completed successfully and the stage was delivered for the first Gaganyaan mission. He was also leading the development activities like, 200-tonne thrust LOX-Kerosene Semi Cryogenic Rocket System for improving LVM3 payload, a 110T thrust LOX-Methane engine for future launch vehicles, electric and green propulsion systems for spacecrafts.</p><p>As Chairman of Project Management Council of Space Transportation System, he guided the teams for the operational and development of new launch vehicles. He was also responsible for the propulsion systems for Venus Orbiter, Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) and Next Generational Launch Vehicle programme cleared by Cabinet recently.</p><p>Narayanan has been honoured with 26 awards. He is a recipient of the Gold Medal from the Astronautical Society of India (ASI), ASI Award for Rocket and Related Technologies, Team Award from High Energy Materials Society of India (HEMSI), Performance Excellence Award and Team Excellence Award of ISRO, National Design Award from NDRF, Institution of Engineers, India, and National Aeronautical Prize from Aeronautical Society of India among others.</p>
<p>Bengaluru: V Narayanan officially assumed charge as the Secretary of Department of Space and Chairman of <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/isro">ISRO</a> from S Somanath on the afternoon of January 13.</p><p>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 Bengaluru.</p><p>V Narayanan, who is a Rocket and Spacecraft Propulsion Expert, joined ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities before becoming Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in January, 2018.</p>.<p><strong>The humble IITian<br></strong>Narayanan, hailing from a humble family background, completed his MTech in Cryogenic Engineering and PhD in Aerospace Engineering from IIT, Kharagpur where he was awarded a silver medal. He has also been honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018 and the Life Fellowship Award 2023 by IIT, Kharagpur.</p><p>In ISRO, he has completed 40 years of service, including 7 years as Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, for which he was promoted to the highest level- Distinguished Scientist (APEX Scale). Under his leadership, LPSC delivered 226 Liquid Propulsion Systems and Control Power plants for Launch Vehicles and Satellites of ISRO.</p><p>When India was denied the Cryogenic Technology for GSLV Mk-ll vehicle, he designed the engine systems, developed necessary software tools, contributed for establishing the necessary infrastructure and test facilities, and completing the development of Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) and making it operational.</p><p>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.</p>.V Narayanan: Everything you need to know about the new ISRO Chief.<p><strong>Helmed important projects<br></strong>As Project Director for C25 Cryogenic Project of Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) vehicle, he led the team in successfully developing C25 Cryogenic Stage powered by a 20-tonne thrust Engine and played vital role in the successful launch of LVM3 vehicle in its maiden attempt and made the stage operational. </p><p>The development of Cryogenic Propulsion Systems made India one among six countries to have this capability and ensured self-reliance in Launch Vehicle.</p><p>He was the Chairman of the National Level Expert Committee which pinpointed the reasons for Chandrayaan-2 hard landing and recommended necessary improvements which eventually contributed to the success of Chandrayaan-3 and made India as the first country to soft-land near the south-pole of Moon.</p><p>Towards Human Space Flight Gaganyaan Programme, he contributed to Human Rating of LVM3 vehicle, development of human-rated cryogenic Stages, environmental control & life support system, service and crew module propulsion systems and Test vehicle for Crew escape system demonstration. As chairman of Gaganyaan Certification Board, he contributed to the certification process of various systems for human space flight.</p><p>Under his leadership, the development of a new cryogenic stage (C32) was completed successfully and the stage was delivered for the first Gaganyaan mission. He was also leading the development activities like, 200-tonne thrust LOX-Kerosene Semi Cryogenic Rocket System for improving LVM3 payload, a 110T thrust LOX-Methane engine for future launch vehicles, electric and green propulsion systems for spacecrafts.</p><p>As Chairman of Project Management Council of Space Transportation System, he guided the teams for the operational and development of new launch vehicles. He was also responsible for the propulsion systems for Venus Orbiter, Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, Bharatiya Antariksha Station (BAS) and Next Generational Launch Vehicle programme cleared by Cabinet recently.</p><p>Narayanan has been honoured with 26 awards. He is a recipient of the Gold Medal from the Astronautical Society of India (ASI), ASI Award for Rocket and Related Technologies, Team Award from High Energy Materials Society of India (HEMSI), Performance Excellence Award and Team Excellence Award of ISRO, National Design Award from NDRF, Institution of Engineers, India, and National Aeronautical Prize from Aeronautical Society of India among others.</p>
