Dr. Sreedhara Panicker Somanath

Event Description

Dr. Sreedhara Panicker Somanath is a highly distinguished Indian aerospace engineer who served as the 10th Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary of the Department of Space from 2022 until his retirement in January 2025. An expert in launch vehicle design, he spent decades at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) making critical engineering contributions to India's premier rockets, the PSLV and GSLV Mk-III (now LVM3). His leadership era is widely celebrated as a golden phase for India's space program, highlighted by the historic Chandrayaan-3 mission, which made India the first nation to soft-land a spacecraft near the lunar south pole, alongside the launch of Aditya-L1, India's first solar observatory.

Summary

Dr. Somanath has played an instrumental role in reforming India’s space policy to integrate private enterprises, startups, and commercial space ventures. His exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and management of complex deep-tech programs have made him a highly sought-after figure in national governance. Following his retirement from ISRO, the Government of India appointed him as a part-time member of the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in August 2026.

Award Details

IAF World Space Award (2024)