Nellore: Noted space scientist Dr K. Sivan was appointed the new chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation on Wednesday.
He was also appointed secretary, department of space, and chairman of the Space Commission for three years.
Dr Sivan is currently director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, and will take over from A.S. Kiran Kumar, who has headed ISRO since January 12, 2015.
Dr Sivan is one of the few scientists at ISRO with knowledge of every department of the organisation. His elevation comes even as ISRO is preparing to launch its 100th satellite on Friday.
Speaking to this newspaper over the telephone from the launch station at Shar, Dr Sivan said it is an honour to hold the post held by legendary leaders in space technology. “They have put ISRO on the highest pedestal and we have to take it to the next level. It is a very heavy responsibility and I thank my leaders and the government for their faith in me,” Dr Sivan said.
Dr Sivan developed a day-of-launch wind biasing strategy which has made possible rocket launches on any day of the year, in any weather and wind conditions. He is the chief architect of the 6D trajectory simulation software, SITARA, which is the back-bone of the real-time and non-real-time trajectory simulations of all ISRO launch vehicles.
