K. Sivan, Distinguished Scientist, ISRO, assumed office as the 12{+t}{+h}Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) here on Sunday.
He takes over from M.S. Dathan who has retired from service. A native of Nagercoil, Dr. Sivan joined ISRO in 1982 in the PSLV project and has contributed towards mission planning, design, integration, and analysis. He commissioned a world class simulation facility in ISRO for mission synthesis and analysis and has contributed to the establishment of parallel computing and hypersonic wind tunnel facilities. He evolved novel strategies for launching India’s Mars mission endeavour through the PSLV. He also spearheaded the Reusable Launch Vehicle Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) project. In April 2011, Dr. Sivan joined the GSLV project as director. His leadership led to the successful flight of GSLV with an indigenous cryogenic stage. Appointed as Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, on July 1, 2014, he led the validation of the mission strategy for the critical orbit insertion under the Mars Orbiter Mission.
