ISRO Chairman List in Chronological Order with Their Achievements and Tenure

ISRO Chairman List: Sreedhara Panicker Somanath (S. Somanath) is the current chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) since 15 January 2022. The list of ISRO chairmen includes 10 individuals from 1963 to 2025. The India National Committee for Space Research (INCOSPAR) was established in 1962 under the Department of Atomic Energy with Dr. Vikram Sarabhai as its first chairperson. This committee evolved into the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in 1969. The Government of India established a Space Commission and Department of Space (DoS) in 1972, bringing ISRO under its purview.

The chairman of ISRO serves as the statutory head of the organization. The role of the chairman is equivalent to that of a secretary in the Government of India and the position reports directly to the Prime Minister. Below is the list of ISRO chairpersons along with their achievements and terms of office.

ISRO Chairman List from 1963 to 2025

Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai was the first chairman of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) from 1963 to 1972. He paved the path for space research in India and was instrumental in developing nuclear power technology. He is widely recognized as the father of the Indian space program. Satish Dhawan holds the record as the longest-serving chairman of ISRO, with a tenure of 12 years. S. Somanath is currently serving as the 10th chairman of ISRO. Below is the chronological list of ISRO chairmen from 1963 to 2025.

ISRO Chairman List in Chronological Order

1. Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai : He is known as the father of the Indian space program and was the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and initiated the first Indian satellite project "Aryabhata".
2. Prof. M. G. K. Menon : He served as an advisor in the Department of Space and as President of the Indian Statistical Institute, making significant contributions to cosmic rays and particle physics.
3. Prof. Satish Dhawan : An Indian rocket scientist, he established the first supersonic wind tunnel at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, and worked on rural education, remote sensing, and satellite communications.
4. Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao : An eminent space scientist, he played a key role in the development of space technology and applications in India, published over 350 scientific papers, and was honored with Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan awards.
5. Dr. K. Kasturirangan : He was instrumental in developing next-generation spacecraft and received multiple Padma awards for his contributions.
6. Shri G. Madhavan Nair : Under his leadership, 25 successful missions were accomplished, including significant satellite launches.
7. Dr. K. Radhakrishnan : A dynamic technocrat, he held various important roles, including chairman of international organizations focused on oceanographic research.
8. Shailesh Nayak : He was involved in ISRO and the Ministry of Earth Sciences in several capacities, contributing to important environmental missions.
9. Shri A. S. Kiran Kumar : A distinguished scientist, he oversaw crucial developments in earth observation and space cooperation.
10. Dr. K. Sivan : He significantly contributed to mission planning and design at ISRO and led the launch of 104 satellites in a single mission.
11. Shri S. Somanath : An aerospace engineer, he currently serves as ISRO chairman and has significantly contributed to launch vehicle design.

For more details about the ISRO chairman list, visit the official website of ISRO.