Wed Jan 08 04:14:07 UTC 2025: ## ISRO’s New Chairman Vows to Expand India’s Space Presence

**Thiruvananthapuram, January 8, 2025** – Dr. V. Narayanan, a renowned rocket and spacecraft propulsion expert, will assume the chairmanship of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 14th. He succeeds S. Somanath at a crucial juncture for India’s ambitious space program, which is undergoing significant reforms and has numerous high-profile projects underway.

Dr. Narayanan, who has led ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre since 2018, described his appointment as both a “great responsibility” and an “opportunity.” He inherits a busy schedule, with immediate priorities including the GSLV Mk-II/IRNSS-1 K mission, the uncrewed Gaganyaan G-1 mission, and a commercial launch using the LVM3 vehicle.

Looking ahead, ISRO’s ambitious plans include the Chandrayaan-4 moon mission, the development of India’s own space station (Bharatiya Antariksha Station), a second Mars mission, and the maiden Venus Orbiter Mission (VOM). While not all projects will be completed during his two-year term, preparations are already underway.

Dr. Narayanan emphasized the importance of increasing India’s presence in the global space economy, aiming to expand its share from 2% to 10%. He highlighted the role of recent space sector reforms, which have opened the sector to private players, in achieving this goal. Collaboration with other space agencies will also remain a key priority.

Dr. Narayanan’s career spans four decades, during which he has made significant contributions to various ISRO missions, including Chandrayaan, Mangalyaan, and Aditya-L1. He holds an MTech in cryogenic engineering and a PhD in aerospace engineering from IIT Kharagpur. His expertise in cryogenic propulsion technology has placed India among a select group of nations with this advanced capability.

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