ISRO Chairman List in Chronological Order with Their Achievements and Tenure

Discover the chronological list of ISRO chairmen from 1963 to 2025, their notable achievements, and contributions to India's space program.

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.

S.NoISRO ChairmanTenureLength of Term
1Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai1963 to 19729 years
2Prof. M. G. K. MenonJan. 1972 to Sept. 19729 months
3Prof. Satish Dhawan1972 to 198412 years
4Prof. Udupi Ramachandra Rao1984 to 199410 years
5Dr. K. Kasturirangan1994 to 20039 years
6Shri G. Madhavan Nair2003 to 20096 years
7Dr. K. Radhakrishnan2009 to 20145 years
8Shailesh Nayak1 Jan. 2015 to 12 Jan. 201512 days
9Shri A. S. Kiran Kumar2015 to 20183 years
10Dr. K. SivanJan 2018 to Jan 20223 years
11Shri S. Somanath12 Jan 2022 to till dateIncumbent
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.

Who is the father of the Indian Space Program?

Dr. Sarabhai is considered as the father of the Indian Space program.

Who is the charmian of ISRO at present 2022?

Shri S. Somanath is the chairman of ISRO from 12 January 2022. He was the Former Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and Director of Liquid propulsion System Centre.

Who was the first Indian scientist to be inducted into Hall of Fame at Washington DC?

He was the first Indian Scientist to be inducted into highly Prestigious Satellite "Hall of Fame" at Washington DC, USA in 2013.

What is the full form of ISRO?

Full form of ISRO is Indian Space Research Organization.

Who is the longest serving chairman of ISRO?

Satish Dhawan is the longest serving chairman of ISRO. He assumed office of Indian Space Research Organization as the chairman for a term of 12 years.