New ISRO chief prime force behind Chandrayaan-I

Radhakrishnan has been closely associated with key ISRO projects in recent years,including last year’s Chandrayaan-I. During the live telecast of the recent flights,the nation saw him as the second-in command of the ISRO team led by Madhavan Nair. Being the head of the the VSSC,the research and development centre of the ISRO,Radhakrishnan was the prime force behind the design and development of the rocket used to launch Chandrayaan-I. “The immediate task would be the launch of GSLV-D3. Besides,application of the Indian-built cryogenic stage on the polar satellite launch vehicle would be on top of the agenda,” he said,adding that the manned space mission,another challenge,is expected to materialise in the next seven years.

Prior to his 2007 appointment as the director of the VSSC,the senior space scientist had been at the helm at the National Remote Sensing Agency. He had also headed the project for developing an Early Warning System for tsunami and storm surges and had served as the Director of Budget and Economic Analysis of ISRO and the National Mission Director of the Integrated Mission for Sustainable Development.

At the international level,Radhakrishnan had worked as Vice-Chairman of Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO and was the Founder Chairman of Indian Ocean Global Ocean Observing System.

His passion,however,extends beyond avionics. Also an artiste,Radhakrishnan is a trained Kathakali dancer and vocalist.

A native of Thrissur in Kerala,he graduated in electrical engineering from Kerala University. After the post-graduate course from IIM,he obtained a doctorate from IIT-Kharagpur.

Radhakrishnan,who credits hard work and god’s grace for success in his life,was,in fact,at the Sri Krishnan Temple,Guruvayur,when the official announcement of his appointment was conveyed to him last Saturday.