THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Tougher tasks await ISRO's new chairman, Dr V. Narayanan. an M.Tech in Cryogenic Engineering and a PhD in Aerospace, also known as the 'Cryoman' of India. Narayanan was one of the brains behind the Indian Propulsion Plan 2017-2037 which helped to increase the strength of Indian rockets and space missions. Narayanan credited his valuable experience as a team member in important tasks under S Somanath, to have instilled confidence to take on big responsibilities. The new ISRO chairman also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for deciding to confer the post to him. S Somanath will likely end his tenure on 14th January.

2025 is a big year for ISRO as the team needs to complete all works related to the touted Gaganyaan space mission scheduled for 2026. Gaganyaan will carry out two unmanned space missions while Chandrayaan 4 and the Indian Space Station mission are in the queue. Narayanan, known for his scrupulous work ethic in LPSC will have to carry forward the same traits in his new tenure as ISRO chief.

The IRNSS satellite will finally be launched this month in a GSLV rocket. Soon after comes the Gaganyaan unmanned launch on the LVM 3 rocket.

The space industry and research arena in the country are undergoing big changes to be on par with elite Western countries. The chairman will have to give a necessary push to speed things up.

Under Narayanan, more opportunities will be provided to the private sector. Private participation in the space sector will increase. India currently has 53 satellites. At least ten times that amount will be needed shortly. Narayanan said that private cooperation is necessary to complete such missions.

ISRO has gained more prominence at the international level in recent years. Narayanan also mulls cooperation with international space agencies during his tenure. His priority as Chairman will be to increase India's share of the global space economy from 2% to 10%.

V. Narayanan is the youngest of six children of farmer Vanniaperumal and Thankammal of, Melakattuvilai village in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. He completed his studies at Tamil Medium School, Kanyakumari and secured rank in the 10th class examination and also in M.Tech from Kharagpur IIT. He joined ISRO in 1984 through VSSC.

At present, he is the director of the Liquid Propulsion System Center at Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram. After assuming charge on the 14th, he will also hold the positions of Secretary of the Department of Space, Scientific Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Space Commission. Narayanan's family consists of wife Kavitaraj and children: Divya and Kalesh.