Dr. V Narayanan, a Distinguished Scientist in ISRO, is currently Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), one of the major Centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) having its Headquarters at Valiamala in Thiruvananthapuram and a Unit at Bangalore. As Director he is providing techno-managerial leadership of 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. Towards GSLV Mk-III M1/Chandrayaan-2 Mission, L110 Liquid Core Stage and C25 Cryogenic Stage were delivered for the vehicle. Propulsion systems for orbiter Vikram Lander which include the throttleable thrusters for soft landing were also developed and delivered for the Chandrayaan-2 Mission.
Dr. V Narayanan, who is a Rocket Propulsion Expert has joined ISRO in 1984 and functioned in various capacities before becoming Director of the Centre. As Project Director for C25 Cryogenic Project, lead the team, successfully developed C25 Cryogenic Stage powered by a 20-tonne thrust Cryogenic Engine using Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen propellant combination and played vital role in the successful launch of GSLV Mk III vehicle in its maiden attempt on 5th June, 2017 from the spaceport of ISRO, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR, Sriharikota. When India was denied the complex Cryogenic Propulsion Technology for GSLV Mk-II vehicle, he has played crucial role in the successful development of Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) and contributed in making it operational for the GSLV Mk II vehicle. He has guided the team and designed a 200-tonne thrust Lox-Kerosene Semi Cryogenic Rocket Engine. During the initial period from 1984 to 1988 in ISRO he has also contributed in the Solid Propulsion System realization for launch vehicles. As Associate Director of LPSC, he was guiding the liquid propulsion activities of ISRO and was instrumental in finalizing the Liquid Propulsion Roadmap of ISRO for the next 20 years.
He served as Chairman of National Level Expert Committee constituted for pinpointing the observations in Chandrayaan-2 mission.
Dr. Narayanan is an Alumni of Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and has taken his M.Tech. with First Rank in Cryogenic Engineering in the year 1989 and Ph.D in Aerospace Engineering in the year 2001. He is a recipient of Silver Medal from IIT Kharagpur for First Rank in M.Tech, Gold Medal from Astronautical Society of India (ASI), ASI Award for Rocket and Related Technologies Development, Team Award from High Energy Materials Society of India (HEMSI), Performance Excellence Award, Outstanding Achievement Award and Team Excellence Awards of ISRO. He is also awarded Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Cause) from Sathyabama University, Chennai. He has been awarded with the Distinguished Alumnus Award-2018 by IIT, Kharagpur and National Design Award-2019 from National Design & Research Forum of Institution of Engineers (India).
Dr. Narayanan is Fellow/Member of various national as well as International bodies in the field of Engineering/Space/Rocketry, which includes Corresponding Member of International Aeronautics and Astronautics and Governing Council Member of INAE.
