According to a Personnel Ministry order issued on Wednesday, rocket scientist Dr. S Somanath has been appointed chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and appointed as the Space Secretary. Dr. K Sivan, who is finishing his extended tenure at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC), will be succeeded by Dr. Somanath, who is currently the Director of VSSC.
Dr. K Sivan is the Chief of ISRO, Secretary of the Department of Space, and Chairman of the Space Commission. In December 2020 he was given a year’s extension till January 14, 2022.
VSSC recently announced Dr. Somanath to be the 10th chairman of the prestigious space organization. He took over as VSSC’s executive director on January 22, 2018. Previously, he had served as the Associate Director (Projects) of Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and also as the Project Director of GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle. Dr. Somanath joined VSSC in 1985 and was a team leader for the integration of PSLV during the early phases.
