Bengaluru: Senior rocket scientist Dr S Somnath, currently serving as Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, has been appointed new chairperson of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), and Space Secretary. He will replace Dr K Sivan, who is retiring on Friday.

Dr Somnath, 58, will be the 10th chairperson of the Indian space agency. He was also the team leader for the Integration of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). He is a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from Kerala University, and completed his Post-Graduation in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru.

“His appointment is for a combined tenure of three years from the date of joining of the post, inclusive of an extension in tenure beyond the age of superannuation in public interest,” an order issued by the Central government reads. Sivan, the outgoing ISRO chief, was in January 2018 appointed as the space agency’s chairperson, Secretary, Department of Space and Chairman, Space Commission. He was in December 2020 given a one-year extension till January 14, 2022. /BI/