Introduction
In 1962, the Indian Government established the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) with the purpose of conducting upper atmospheric research. This committee was based at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram. Later, in 1969, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was established, taking over from INCOSPAR. And it now serves as the space agency of the Indian Government, with its headquarters situated in Bengaluru. ISRO’s primary responsibilities comprises a wide array of tasks, including space-based applications, space exploration, international space collaboration, and the advancement of associated technologies. It stands among the exclusive group of six government space agencies worldwide that possess complete launch capabilities, utilize cryogenic engines, conduct extraterrestrial missions, and maintain an extensive fleet of artificial satellites.
ISRO operates under the supervision of the Department of Space (DOS), which directly reports to the Indian Prime Minister. Also, the chairman of ISRO holds an executive position within DOS. The ISRO Chairman plays a crucial role within the organisation, defining its strategic direction, overseeing critical programs, and fostering collaborations with national and international space agencies. Most recently, on July 14 2023, ISRO achieved another remarkable milestone by successfully launching Chandrayaan 3, showcasing another noteworthy accomplishment.
List of ISRO Chairman from 1963 to 2023 – Details
ISRO has seen 11 chairmen since its establishment in 1963. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often hailed as the pioneer of the Indian Space Program, held the position as Founder Chairman of ISRO. On January 12, 2022, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed S Somanath as the eleventh ISRO Chief, succeeding K. Sivan who assumed the position in January 2018.
| Sl.No. | Name | Tenure | Accompliments |
| 1 | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai | 9 years (1963-1972) | Vikram Sarabhai is widely recognized as the Father of the Indian Space Program and was the first Chairman of ISRO, who also served as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. He played a key role in establishing several renowned institutions, some of which are listed below: i. Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. ii. Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. iii. Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Ahmedabad. iv. Faster Breeder Test Reactor (FBTR) in Kalpakkam. v. Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) in Hyderabad. vi. Space Application Centre in Ahmedabad. |
| 2 | Dr. M.G.K. Menon | 9 months (Jan. 1972-Sept.1972) | Dr. M G K Menon made significant contributions to ISRO during his tenure. Under his leadership as Chairman of ISRO, his astute decisions played a pivotal role in enabling the subsequent rapid and systematic advancement of the Indian Space Programme. Notably, his visionary approach paved the way for India’s successful onset into the realm of satellites and launch vehicles during the 1970s. Dr. Menon gained renown for his contributions to cosmic rays and particle physics, with a particular focus on studying the high-energy interactions of elementary particles. He was a distinguished physicist and policy maker who left a profound impact on the nation’s scientific and technological landscape for more than forty years. |
| 3 | Dr. Satish Dhawan | 12 years (1972-1984) | Dr. Satish Dhawan was an esteemed mathematician and aerospace engineer, earning widespread recognition as the pioneer of experimental fluid dynamics research in the country. Dr. Dhawan was at the forefront of groundbreaking experiments in rural education, remote sensing, and satellite communications. His relentless endeavors resulted in the successful establishment of operational systems such as INSAT, a telecommunications satellite; IRS, the Indian Remote Sensing satellite; and the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), elevating India to the esteemed ranks of spacefaring nations. |
| 4 | Prof. U.R. Rao | 10 years (1984-1994) | Collaborating with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory group, Dr. Rao achieved a groundbreaking milestone by providing the initial evidence of the solar wind’s continuous nature and its impact on geomagnetism, upgrading observations from Mariner 2. Through his experiments conducted on various Pioneer and Explorer spacecraft, Rao attained a comprehensive understanding of solar cosmic-ray phenomena and the electromagnetic conditions prevailing in interplanetary space. Recognizing the paramount importance of space technology for swift development, Rao assumed the critical role of spearheading the establishment of satellite technology in India back in 1972. |
| 5 | Dr. K. Kasturirangan | 9 years (1994-2003) | Within ISRO, Dr. Kasturirangan held the esteemed position of the Director at the ISRO Satellite Centre, where he led and supervised the development of cutting-edge spacecraft, including the Indian National Satellite System (INSAT-2), Indian remote sensing satellites (IRS-1A and -1B), and various scientific satellites. Notably, he also served as the Project Director for India’s inaugural experimental earth observation satellites, Bhaskara-I and II. Being an astrophysicist, Kasturirangan’s areas of expertise encompass research in high-energy X-ray and gamma-ray astronomy, alongside optical astronomy. A significant achievement during his tenure was conceptualizing and defining India’s most ambitious space-based high-energy astronomy observatory, while also spearheading the initiation of related activities. |
| 6 | Dr. G.Madhavan Nair | 6 years (2003-2009) | Under his leadership as Chairman of ISRO/Secretary of DOS, Dr. Madhavan achieved a remarkable feat with the successful completion of twenty-seven missions. These missions included the accomplishments of INSAT-3E, Resourcesat-1, Edusat, Cartosat-1, Hamsat-1, INSAT-4A, PSLV-C5, GSLV-F01, PSLV-C6, Cartosat-2, INSAT-4B, SRE-1, PSLV-C7, PSLV-C8, GSLV-F04, INSAT-4CR, PSLV-C10, Cartosat-2A, IMS-1, PSLV-C9, Chandrayaan-1, PSLV-C11, PSLV-C12, RISAT-2, ANUSAT, PSLV-C14, and Oceansat-2. Furthermore, he has been instrumental in driving initiatives focused on the development of futuristic technologies, with the aim of enhancing space systems capabilities and simultaneously reducing the cost of access to space. The primary focus was on conducting scientific explorations of outer space through missions like AstroSat and Chandrayaan (Moon), alongside the implementation of schemes dedicated to tele-medicine, tele-education, and disaster management support systems. |
| 7 | Dr. K. Radhakrishnan | 5 years (2009-2014) | As India’s space chief during the period from November 2009 to December 2014, Radhakrishnan played a pivotal role in guiding ISRO to accomplish an impressive total of 37 space missions. Among these were several historic milestones, including the successful execution of the Mars Orbiter Mission, the utilization of the Indian Cryogenic Engine on GSLV, and the inaugural experimental flight of GSLV Mk III. Also, notable achievements involved conducting a re-entry experiment with an uncrewed crew module and establishing new space capabilities through IRNSS (1A, 1B, 1C) for navigation, GSAT-7 for strategic communication, and RISAT-1 for microwave radar imaging. During this period, ISRO also completed two joint satellite missions (Megha Tropiques and SARAL) in collaboration with the French National Space Agency, and forged an agreement with NASA for the joint development of an advanced Radar Imaging Satellite. Furthermore, India’s stature in the global space market witnessed significant enhancement, as evidenced by the successful launch of 18 commercial satellites for 11 countries using the PSLV platform. |
| 8 | Dr. Shailesh Nayak | 12 days (Jan. 1, 2015 -Jan. 12, 2015) | He served as the interim chairman of ISRO between December 31, 2014 and January 11, 2015. In his career, he has also held the position of director at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad. During his tenure at ESSO-INCOIS, he led the establishment of a cutting-edge Early Warning System for Tsunami and Storm Surges in the Indian Ocean, contributing to enhanced preparedness and safety. Additionally, he played a crucial role in the conceptualization and development of Marine Geographic Information System (GIS) capabilities through Satellite Mapping. |
| 9 | Dr. A.S. Kiran Kumar | 3 years (2015-2018) | Dr Kumar is acclaimed for his contributions to developing essential scientific instruments on board the Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan spacecraft. Kumar is highly regarded for his instrumental role in designing and developing electro-optical image sensors utilised in India’s inaugural remote sensing satellite, Bhaskara, which was launched in 1979, followed by another in 1981. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in creating ocean colour instruments that have been instrumental in weather forecasting, sea zone and landscape mapping, and telecommunications applications. Also, he is recognised for his involvement in designing and developing imaging instruments for various significant projects, including INSAT–3D, Resourcesat, Micro Satellite, and Cartosat. Kiran Kumar’s efforts also played a crucial role in creating the Terrain Mapping Camera and Hyperspectral Imager payloads for the Chandrayaan-1 project. |
| 10 | Dr. K.Sivan | 3 years (2018-2022) | Dr. Sivan has been actively involved in the design and development of launch vehicles for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He commenced his journey with ISRO in 1982, contributing to the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Project. Over the years, he assumed various leadership roles within ISRO, including serving as the director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre and later as the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.During his tenure as Chairman of ISRO, noteworthy accomplishments included the successful launch of Chandrayaan 2, the second lunar mission, on July 22, 2019. |
| 11 | Dr. S. Somanath | Incumbent | His notable expertise lies in the design of launch vehicles, particularly in the domains of launch vehicle systems engineering, structural design, structural dynamics, and pyrotechnics.He assumed the position of director at Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, succeeding K. Sivan, who was appointed as the Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). In January 2022, Somanath ascended to the role of Chairman of ISRO, once again following in the footsteps of K. Sivan. |
Conclusion
List of ISRO Chairmen – Important Facts
1. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was founded by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai in 1969.
2. ISRO Headquarters is at Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
3. ISRO Chairman is the highest rank in the Indian Space Research Organisation.
4. Dr. Vikram Sarabhai was the first chairman of ISRO.
5. Dr. Satish Dhawan has served the longest term (12 years) as the Chairman of ISRO from 1972 – 1984.
6. Dr. Shailesh Nayak served the shortest term (12 days) as the Chairman of ISRO from 1 Jan. 2015 – 12 Jan. 2015.
7. Dr. S Somanath is the present Chairman of ISRO succeeding Dr. Sivan on January 12, 2022. Under his expert guidance, Chandrayaan 3 was successfully launched on July 14, 2023 marking it as one of India’s greatest achievements and a moment of immense pride.
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FAQs
1. Who is the Founder of ISRO?
A. Vikram Sarabhai often hailed as the pioneer of the Indian Space Program is the Founder of ISRO. He was the first Chairman of ISRO, as well. He is widely recognized as the Father of the Indian Space Program.
2. Where is the Headquaters of ISRO situated?
A. The Headquaters of ISRO is situated at Bengaluru (Bangalore) in Karnataka State, India.
3. Who is the Present Chairman of ISRO?
A. Dr. S. Somanath is the present Chairman of ISRO.
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