S. UNNIKRISHNAN NAIR

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) • Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

Dr. S Unnikrishnan Nair, Distinguished Scientist, took charge as Director, VSSC in February, 2022.
Academic qualification: He is a graduate in Mechanical Engineering from MA College of Engineering, Kerala University, post graduate in Aerospace engineering from IISc, Bangalore and holding PhD in Mechanical Engineering from IIT(M), Chennai. He also secured an MA in Telecommunications and Space Law from NALSAR, Hyderabad.

1. Contributions:

  • Director, VSSC (Since February 2022)

Prior to that served as

  • Deputy Director, Structures Entity, VSSC

Programme Director, Advanced Space Transportation system, VSSC; , a unified entity created for integrating the various technology development activities of Human space flight, Reusable launch vehicle, Air breathing propulsion and Advanced Test Vehicles.

He started his career in Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Trivandrum in 1985 and was involved in the development of PSLV, GSLV and LVM3. He has played pivotal role in leading the team for the successful launching and insertion of the prestigious Chandrayaan-3, Aditya L1 and SPADEX satellites into the intended orbits. Under his leadership, the maiden Test vehicle flight for in-flight demonstration of Gaganyaan Crew escape system was successfully carried out. He has steered the team for three Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) landing experiments and three Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) missions.

He is an expert in re-entry technologies and as Deputy Project Director played a key role in the Spacecapsule Recovery Experiment (SRE), which was the maiden experiment of bringing back an orbiting satellite to a pre-destined destination on earth. He has made seminal contributions in developing the Parachute and other Recovery systems for a re-entering vehicle for the first time in the country. He has also played a pivotal role in lining up various national agencies and finalizing process for the safe recovery of SRE from sea.

Events

The Global Space Exploration Conference 2025

7-9 May 2025

New Delhi, India

Participation: