Post Name : ISRO Chairman List From 1963 to 2024
Post Date : 30 March, 2024
Post Description : ISRO, or the Indian Space Research Organisation, stands as one of the premier space research organizations globally. At present, S. Somanath holds the position of Chairman at ISRO, with his full name being Sreedhara Panicker Somanath. This blog will look into the list of ISRO Chairmen and provide other pertinent details. Given the frequent appearance of questions related to ISRO in competitive exams like SSC & Railway Exams, understanding this subject is crucial.
ISRO Chairman List
In 1962, the Indian National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was formed by the Indian government, with a primary focus on upper atmospheric research conducted at the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in Thiruvananthapuram. Subsequently, in 1969, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was established, headquartered in Bangalore, taking over the responsibilities from INCOSPAR.
| ISRO Chairman List | ||
|---|---|---|
| ISRO Chairman | Tenure | Term Length |
| Dr. Vikram Sarabhai | 1963 to 1971 | 9 years |
| Prof. M. G. K. Menon | Jan 1972 to Sept 1972 | 9 months |
| Prof. Satish Dhawan | 1972 to 1984 | 12 years |
| Prof. U. R. Rao | 1984 to 1994 | 10 years |
| Dr. K. Kasturirangan | 1994 to 2003 | 9 years |
| G. Madhavan Nair | 2003 to 2009 | 6 years |
| Dr. K. Radhakrishnan | 2009 to 2014 | 5 years |
| Dr. Shailesh Nayak | 2015 to 2015 | 11 days |
| A. S. Kiran Kumar | 2015 to 2018 | 3 years |
| Dr K. Sivan | Jan 2018 to Jan 2022 | 4 years |
| Somanath S | 12 Jan 2022 (incumbent) | – |
ISRO Chairman Details
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai (1963 to 1972):
- Known as the Father of the Indian space program, established key institutions like PRL, IIM Ahmedabad, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, and FBTR.
Prof. M. G. K. Menon (Jan-Sep 1972):
- Renowned for pioneering work in cosmic rays and particle physics, focusing on high-energy interactions of elementary particles.
Prof. Satish Dhawan (1972-1984):
- Advanced India’s space endeavors, developing operational systems like INSAT and PSLV, marking significant milestones for ISRO.
Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao (1984-1994):
- Spearheaded the establishment of satellite technology in India, designing and launching India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, in 1975.
Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan (1994-2003):
- Oversaw major achievements like the development of PSLV and GSLV, served as Project Director for earth observation satellites BHASKARA-I & II.
Shri G. Madhavan Nair (2003-2009):
- Marked significant milestones including the launch of Chandrayaan-1, accomplished 25 successful missions, solidifying ISRO’s position in space exploration.
Dr. K. Radhakrishnan (2009-2014):
- Oversaw India’s first interplanetary mission, Mangalyaan, showcased India’s growing prowess in space exploration.
Shri A S Kiran Kumar (2015 to 2018):
- Witnessed achievements such as the launch of Chandrayaan-1 and Mars Orbiter Mission, played a role in developing navigation systems like IRNSS and GAGAN.
Dr. K. Sivan (2018 to 2022):
- Made significant contributions to mission planning and execution, saw the launch of Chandrayaan-2 and advancements in India’s manned space program.
S Somanath (appointed in Jan 2022):
- Led the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the lunar surface in August 2023, continuing to make strides in space exploration and technology under his leadership.
ISRO Chairman Important Points
- India’s first satellite, Aryabhata, was launched in 1975.
- 2008 saw the launch of Chandrayaan-1, India’s first lunar mission, which was announced on August 15, 2003 by the then-prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- S. Somanath is the current chairman of ISRO. He is in charge of the Chandrayaan-3 mission and was a key player in India’s moon expedition.
- Dr. Shailesh Nayak: Previously involved in oceanography and remote sensing, he briefly held the position of acting chief of ISRO for 11 days.
- Under the direction of S. Somanath, the Chandrayaan-3 Mission was launched with the goal of becoming the first Indian spacecraft to set foot on the moon. Its primary target is the South Pole.
