Dr. V. Narayanan, the newly appointed chairperson of ISRO, embodies a journey of perseverance and brilliance. Hailing from a farming family in Tamil Nadu, he studied under the light of kerosene lamps before excelling in academics and becoming a key architect of India's cryogenic engine program. This engine powers India's heaviest rocket, LVM3, which will soon carry Indian astronauts into space.

In an exclusive interview, Dr. Narayanan shared insights into ISRO's ambitious projects. The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), a colossal 91-meter-tall rocket, is being developed to carry 30,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit. It features cutting-edge technology, reusable stages, and collaboration with private industries for manufacturing.

ISRO is also preparing for the Gaganyaan mission, India's first human spaceflight program. While the launch vehicle has been human-rated, uncrewed missions will precede crewed flights to ensure safety. Additionally, two moon missions are on the horizon: LUPEX (a joint mission with Japan featuring a 250 kg rover) and Chandrayaan-4, which aims to bring back lunar samples.

Dr. Narayanan emphasized the importance of a new launch pad to accommodate growing commercial and mission-specific demands. He also highlighted the private sector's pivotal role in satellite production, navigation systems, and earth observation as ISRO scales up its operations.

With a clear roadmap for innovation, ISRO is poised to solidify India’s position as a global leader in space exploration.