ISRO Chairman List From 1963 to 2023, Complete Information

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ISRO Chairman

ISRO Chairman List 2023: ISRO is one of the World’s Premium Space Research Organisations. In this blog, we will look at the ISRO Chairman List along with other important details. Questions on this topic have frequently been asked in competitive exams like SSC CGL, Railway Group D, and State Exams.

ISRO Chairman List: About ISRO

The acronym ISRO pronounced ɪsroʊ stands for Indian Space Research Organisation.  ISRO is India’s space agency.  Its headquarters are located in Bengaluru. 

The parent body for ISRO is the Department of Space (DOS), and ISRO functions under it.  The Prime Minister of India oversees the DOS directly.  ISRO has its own Chairman, who is also an executive of DOS. 

Current Chairman of ISRO

At present, the incumbent Chairman of ISRO is S Somanath.  He is the current Secretary (Space) and ex-officio chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation and the Space Commission. Somanath joined the VSSC in 1985 after completing his B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, and Masters in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Science (ISSC), Bengaluru. he is an expert in a host of disciplines including launch vehicle design and has specialized in the following areas:

  • launch vehicle systems engineering
  • structural design
  • structural dynamics
  • integration designs and procedures
  • mechanism design and pyrotechnics. 

ISRO Chairman List From 1963 to 2023

Let us look at the former Chairmen of ISRO in the following ISRO Chairman list.

NameThe term as Chairman ISRODate of BirthSome Key Achievements in ISRO
S Somanath2022- PresentJuly 1963Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC)
system integration design, development, and testing of PSLV
Kailasavadivoo Sivan2018- January 202214 April 1957)implemented an innovative ‘day-of launch wind biasing strategy
ISRO award for outstanding achievement in 2016
Chandrayaan-2
Shri Aluru Seelin Kiran Kumar2015 – 201822 October 1952Developed key scientific instruments on-board the Mangalyaan and the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft
Dr. Koppillil Radhakrishnan2009-201429 August 1949Responsible for execution of 37 Indian Space Missions (Launch Vehicles & Satellites).
The successful flight of GSLV-D5 with GSAT-14 satellite on 5 January 2014.
G. Madhavan Nair2003-200931 October 1943Responsible for27 successful missions
Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan1994-200324 October 1940Successful launch and operationalization of 2 launch vehicles: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle.
Oversaw development of new generation spacecraft, the Indian National Satellite (INSAT-2), Indian Remote Sensing satellites (IRS-1A and 1B), and other scientific satellites.
Project Director for earth observation satellites, Bhaskara-I and II.
Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao1984-199410 March 1932 – 24 July 2017successful launch of ASLV rocket development of the operational PSLV launch vehicle initiated the development of the geostationary launch vehicle GSLVInitiated the development of cryogenic technology successful launch of INSAT satellites
Prof. Satish Dhawan1972-198425 September 1920–3 January 2002Under his leadership, the Indian space program became highly mature. 
He provided a model for defining, formulating, and organizing high technology projects and delivering sophisticated products in a time-bound manner.
Major programs for launch vehicles and satellites were defined carefully and executed systematically. 
Carried out pioneering experiments for satellite communications and remote sensing. 
Prof. Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar MenonJanuary 1972-September 197228 August 1928 – 22 November 2016
Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai 1963-197112 August 1919 – 30 December 1971Father of the Indian Space program
He was instrumental in the setting up of ISRO by convincing the government of the importance of a space program for India, a developing nation.

Important Facts: ISRO Chairman List

S.Somanath is the 10th chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization. ISRO and India altogether have seen important events during the regime of various chairmen of ISRO. We will provide you with important facts about ISRO Chairman.

Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

  • Dr.Vikram Sarabhai is the Father of the Indian Space program.
  • Sarabhai has received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards for his contribution to the field of astronomy and science.
  • He also played a key role in the development of nuclear power in India.

Prof. Mambillikalathil Govind Kumar Menon

  • He was known by his short name “Goku”. Goku is considered one of the finest particle physicists in India.
  • Goku has received the Padma Vibhushan and C.V. Raman awards for his outstanding contribution to particle physics.

Prof. Satish Dhawan

  • Dhawan is regarded as the Father of “Experimental fluid dynamics research in India”.
  • Rocketry: The Nambi Effect movie released in 2022 is based on the life story of Prof. Satish Dhawan.
  • In 2002, ISRO named its launch center at Sriharikota as Satish Dhawan Space Center-SHAR.

Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao

  • In 1975, Udupi pioneered India’s first satellite “Aryabhata” launched into space.
  • On 19 March 2013, he was inducted into the Satellite Hall of Fame, Washington by the Society of Satellite Professionals international.
  • He was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India for his outstanding contribution to the field of astronomy.

Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan

  • He has done prominent contributions to the effect of Gamma and X-rays.
  • Very few people are aware that he is the head of the drafting committee of the New Education Policy, 2020.
  • He headed the Indian Space Research Organization for a long tenure of 9 years.

G. Madhavan Nair

  • G. Madhavan is one of the leading technologists in the field of rocket systems.
  • G. Madhavan Nair received the Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards for his contribution to the rocket technology of India.

Dr. Koppillil Radhakrishnan

  • “Mission Mangalyan” of ISRO was successfully executed under the chairmanship of Dr. Radhakrishnan.
  • He has been awarded the Padma Bhushan Award and 40 other awards for his outstanding contributions to the space technology of India.

Aluru Seelin Kiran Kumar

  • He is recognized for his credit towards the development of key scientific instruments aboard the Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan space crafts.
  • Kiran Kumar was awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.

Kailasavadivoo Sivan

  • Chandrayaan-2 was launched under the chairmanship of K.Sivan and successfully entered the lunar orbit.
  • K.Sivan is known as the “Rocket Man of India” because of his strategies to make sure the rockets can be launched under different weather and wind conditions.

ISRO Chairman List: Conclusion

You need to know the various Chairmen of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the know-how they have taken ISRO to the great heights it has achieved. It is the foresight and dedication of these chairmen which has given India such a successful space program. To read more such blogs, visit the Oliveboard website! 



ISRO Chairman List: Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation served for the longest term?

Ans. The longest-serving chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation was Prof. Satish Dhawan. He served a term of 12 years.

Q2. Where is the Headquarters of the Indian Space Research Organisation?

Ans. Indian Space Research Organisation is headquartered in Bengaluru.

Q3. Who was the first Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation?

Ans. The first Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation was DR. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai.

Q4. Who is the incumbent Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation?

Ans. The Incumbent Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation is S Somanath.

Q5. Who is known as the Rocket Man of India?

Ans. K. Sivan is known as the rocket man of India.

Q6. Who is known as the Father of Indian Space Programs?

Ans. Dr.Vikram Sarabhai is the Father of the Indian Space program


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