ISRO Chairman List (1963–2026): First Chairman, Current Chairman & FAQs
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has had a total of 11 Chairman’s from 1963 to 2024. The first Chairman was Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, and the current Chairman, as of 2024, is S. Somanath. In this article, you can find information about the first Chairman of ISRO, the current Chairman of ISRO, and the former list of ISRO Chairmen from 1963 to 2026.
ISRO Chairman List from 1963 to 2026
| S.No | Chairman Name | Tenure | Length of Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dr. Vikram Sarabhai | 1963–1971 | 9 years |
| 2 | Prof. M.G.K. Menon | Jan–Sep 1972 | 9 months |
| 3 | Prof. Satish Dhawan | 1972–1984 | 12 years |
| 4 | Prof. U.R. Rao | 1984–1994 | 10 years |
| 5 | Dr. K. Kasturirangan | 1994–2003 | 9 years |
| 6 | G. Madhavan Nair | 2003–2009 | 6 years |
| 7 | Dr. K. Radhakrishnan | 2009–2014 | 5 years |
| 8 | Dr. Shailesh Nayak (Interim) | 2015 | 11 days |
| 9 | A.S. Kiran Kumar | 2015–2018 | 3 years |
| 10 | Dr. K. Sivan | 2018–2022 | 3 years |
| 11 | S. Somanath | 2022–Present | — |
Who is the Current Chairman of ISRO (2026)?
S. Somanath is the current Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He was appointed on January 14, 2022.
Somanath is an aerospace engineer with over 36 years of experience in the Indian space program. He has held various senior positions at ISRO, including Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
Under the leadership of S. Somanath, ISRO has successfully launched the Chandrayaan-3 lunar exploration mission and Aditya L1.
S. Somanath is also leading the 2024 upcoming ISRO missions Gaganyaan-1 and Gaganyaan-2, India’s first human spaceflight mission; Mangalyaan 2 (Mars Orbiter Mission 2); NISAR; SPADEX; and Shukrayaan 1.
Who was the First Chairman of ISRO?
Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, often hailed as the father of the Indian Space Program, was the first Chairman of ISRO. He was instrumental in the establishment of ISRO in 1969, thereby laying the groundwork for India’s journey into space exploration.
Some of the well known contributions made by Dr. Vikram Sarabhai are:
- First Indian Satellite, Aryabhata: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai initiated a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian satellite. As a result, Aryabhata was launched in 1975 from a Russian cosmodrome.
- Introduction of Television in India: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai is also credited with bringing television to India.
- Physical Research Laboratory (PRL): Founded in 1947, PRL is known as the cradle of space sciences in India.
- Atomic Energy Commission: Dr. Vikram Sarabhai served as the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission of India.
- Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A): Dr. Vikram Sarabhai played a pivotal role in founding IIM Ahmedabad.
Dr. Sarabhai’s extraordinary contributions have left a lasting impact on science and technology in India, particularly in the fields of space research and nuclear power.
What is the role of the ISRO Chairman?
The Chairman of ISRO is responsible for managing ISRO and represents it to the Indian government and other space agencies around the world. The Chairman is an executive of the Department of Space (DOS) and reports directly to the Prime Minister of India.
How is the ISRO Chairman appointed?
The Chairman of ISRO is appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) and typically serves a three- to four-year term.
FAQs:
Q: What is the full form of ISRO?
A: The full form of ISRO is the Indian Space Research Organisation. Headquartered in Bengaluru, it is the national space agency of India and ranks among the world’s largest space agencies. ISRO's primary goals are to develop space exploration, research space science, and pursue planetary exploration.
Q: In which year was ISRO officially established?
A: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) was founded on August 15, 1969, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It was established by the Government of India, with Dr. Vikram Sarabhai as its first Chairman.
Q: Who is the founder of ISRO?
A: Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai was the founder and the first Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He was a visionary scientist and industrialist who played a key role in the development of India’s space program.
Q: ISRO is owned by?
A: ISRO is owned by the Government of India and comes under the jurisdiction of the Department of Space.
Q: First rocket launched in India
A: The Nike-Apache, a United States rocket, was launched on November 21, 1963.
Q: First Indian satellite
A: Aryabhata – launched from the former Soviet Union on April 19, 1975.
Q: What is the name of the first student satellite launched by ISRO?
A: The first student-made satellite launched by ISRO was called “KalamSat.” It was designed by a student team from SpaceKidz India and was launched on January 24, 2019, using the PSLV-C44 rocket. KalamSat was a small communication satellite with a lifespan of two months and was named after former Indian President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.
Q: What is the name of the ISRO virtual space museum?
A: ISRO has launched a virtual space museum called “SPARK” (Space Park). SPARK provides an interactive platform for exploring digital content related to ISRO missions, including launch vehicles, satellites, and scientific missions.
Q: ISRO first human spaceflight mission name
A: Gaganyaan.
Q: ISRO first space-based observatory mission name
A: AstroSat – launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on September 28, 2015.
Q: ISRO first space solar observatory mission name
A: Aditya-L1 Solar Observatory Mission, launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on September 2, 2023.
Q: ISRO third space-based observatory mission name
A: XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) – launch scheduled on January 1, 2024.
Q: Types of satellites developed by ISRO
A: Communication satellites, Earth observation satellites, scientific spacecraft, navigation satellites, experimental satellites, small satellites, and student satellites.
Q: Domestic satellites launched by India from 2003–2013
A: 31.
Q: Domestic satellites launched by India from 2014–2023
A: 70.
Q: Foreign satellites launched by India from 2003–2013
A: 33.
Q: Foreign satellites launched by India from 2014–2023
A: 396.
Q: In which year did India start developing or launching rockets?
A: RH-75 was India’s first indigenous sounding rocket, launched on November 20, 1967.
Q: ISRO satellites are made at which location?
A: U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru.
Q: ISRO rockets / launch vehicles are made at which location?
A: Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram.
Q: First Indian planetary science and exploration mission
A: Chandrayaan-1.
Q: ISRO moon mission name
A: Chandrayaan (also known as the Lunar Mission).
Q: ISRO Mars planet mission name
A: Mangalyaan (also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission).
Q: ISRO Venus planet mission name
A: Shukrayaan (also known as the Venus Orbiter Mission).
Q: Who is the present Chairman of ISRO?
A: S. Somanath is the current Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He is the 11th Chairman of ISRO and was appointed on January 12, 2022. He is a distinguished aerospace engineer with over 35 years of experience and has served as Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC). He also led the Chandrayaan-3 mission.
Q: Where is ISRO headquarters located?
A: The headquarters of ISRO is located in Bengaluru. The headquarters building is called Antariksh Bhavan, which means “Space House” in Hindi.
Q: How many ISRO space research centres are there in India?
A: There are 21 ISRO centres in India, involved in satellite development, launch vehicles, space applications, and space science.
Q: Indian’s first launch vehicle name
A: Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3). The first successful launch took place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota (SHAR), on July 18, 1980.
