Chandrayaan 3: Know the educational qualifications of the brains behind India’s moon mission

Chandrayaan 3: The Lander Module (LM) of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) third lunar mission Chandrayaan-3, which was launched on July 14, successfully landed on the Moon’s surface on August 23, making India the fourth nation after the former Soviet Union, the United States, and China to perform a soft landing on the Moon’s surface.

ISRO’s principal scientist, P. Veeramuthuvel, oversaw the Chandrayaan-3 mission, with Srikant serving as Mission Director and Kalpana as Associate Project Director. ISRO was led by M. Sankaran as its Director, while S. Somanath served as its Chairman. Assamian scientist Chayan Dutta was also a member of the crew. The mission’s landing site was the South Pole of the Moon, and it achieved India’s first soft landing on the lunar surface, a significant accomplishment for ISRO’s space exploration endeavours.

Explore the qualifications and alma maters of the leaders of Chandrayaan-3, highlighting India’s space exploration prowess.

ISRO’s Goal accomplished India’s first soft moon touchdown.

Chandrayaan-3 Landing: Everything about the Mission, what happens after it lands on the Moon

Chandrayaan 3 Educational Qualifications of Scientists

S. Somnath

S Somnath, who presently serves as Secretary of the Department of Space and Chairman of the Space Commission, earned his Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering in Kollam. In addition, he earned a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore, where he specialised in Structures, Dynamics, and Control and was awarded a gold medal for his accomplishments.

College of Engineering at TKM: TKM institution of Engineering, founded in 1956 and inaugurated on 3 July 1958, is the first government-supported engineering institution in Kerala. This prestigious institution in Kollam has a long history of providing exceptional engineering education.

Sankaran M

M Sankaran is in charge of the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), which is India’s premier centre for satellite design, development, and implementation. In 1986, armed with a Master’s in Physics from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, he began his career at ISRO Satellite Centre (now URSC). His exceptional knowledge and contributions have cemented his pivotal position in India’s space exploration efforts.

Bharathidasan University: Established in February 1982, Bharathidasan University takes its name from the distinguished Tamil poet Bharathidasan. The university’s comprehensive academic structure includes four faculties, sixteen schools, forty-nine departments, and twenty-nine specialised research centres. The institution provides 151 academic programmes that appeal to a wide range of academic pursuits, thereby presenting a variety of educational opportunities.

Doctor Narayanan

Dr. V Narayanan, Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), is a distinguished rocket propulsion expert. Dr. Narayanan’s expertise has considerably contributed to India’s space endeavours since he joined ISRO in 1984. His leadership at LPSC is essential to the advancement of propulsion technologies that undergird India’s space missions, thereby enhancing India’s standing in the international space community.

Dr. V Narayanan, a distinguished graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, excelled in his academic pursuits. In 1989, he earned his MTech in Cryogenic Engineering with an exceptional first-place ranking. His thirst for knowledge led him to pursue a doctorate in Aerospace Engineering, where he refined his skills. In recognition of his exceptional accomplishments, IIT Kharagpur awarded him a silver medal for his top MTech ranking. In addition, the Astronautical Society of India awarded him a prestigious gold medal for his outstanding contributions. Dr. Narayanan was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by Sathyabama University, Chennai, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the discipline.

S. Unnikrishnan Nair

Director of both the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram, Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair is a prominent character in the field of space exploration. He began his academic career by earning a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering from Kerala University. He pursued a ME at IISc Bangalore and later a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at IIT Madras, both motivated by his interest in aerospace engineering. NALSAR awarded him a Master of Arts in Telecommunications and Space Law. His educational pursuits extended beyond engineering.

Dr. Nair’s professional career began in 1985 at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, where he was instrumental in numerous facets of space exploration. Notably, he was the primary force behind the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE), the first orbital re-entry experiment, from its conception to its successful execution in 2007. His commitment and knowledge have considerably advanced space technology and research, elevating India’s standing in the international space community.

The University of Kerala, founded in 1937 and formerly known as the University of Travancore, occupies a prominent position in India’s educational landscape. Originating in the former princely state of Travancore, this institution was among the first 16 universities to be established in the nation. The University of Kerala has been a leader in providing quality education and contributing to the academic growth and development of the region and the world for decades.

P. Veeramuttuvel

P Veeramuthuvel, the Project Director of Chandrayaan 3, comes from a humble background in which his father laboured as a railway employee. His journey, however, has lead him to an outstanding position within the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Veeramuthuvel is in charge of directing the expansive mission of Chandrayaan 3 and collaborates with numerous ISRO centres to bring this ambitious lunar endeavour to fruition. His story is an inspiring example of how individuals from diverse backgrounds can substantially contribute to India’s space exploration achievements.

Veeramuthuvel began his education at the railway school in Villupuram and later earned a Mechanical Engineering diploma from a private polytechnic institution. His thirst for knowledge led him to conclude his undergraduate studies at a private college in Chennai and his graduate studies at a second prestigious engineering school. His dedication to academic excellence resulted in a doctorate from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). This educational path demonstrates his perseverance and set the groundwork for his prominent position as the Project Director of Chandrayaan 3, a significant mission coordinated with ISRO centres.

Chandrayaan 3 Contributors