S. Somanath
{{Short description|Indian aerospace engineer}}
{{Indian patronymic|Somanath|Sreedhara Panicker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Dr. S. Somanath
| image = S. Somanath, Director of VSSC, ISRO, speaks during the Heads of Agency Plenary of the 70th International Astronautical Congress (cropped).jpg
| alt = Honorable Chairman of ISRO
| caption = Somanath in 2019
| title = Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation
| term_start = {{Start date|2022|01|15|df=yes}}
| term_end = {{End date|2025|01|14|df=yes}}
| predecessor = K. Sivan
| successor = V. Narayanan
| title1 = Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre
| term_start1 = 24 January 2018
| term_end1 = 14 January 2022
| predecessor1 = K. Sivan
| successor1 = S. Unnikrishnan Nair{{cite web |title=Dr.S. Unnikrishnan Nair |url=https://www.vssc.gov.in/director.html |access-date=7 February 2022 |archive-date=7 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207123444/https://www.vssc.gov.in/director.html |url-status=live }}
| title2 = Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre
| term_start2 = 1 January 2015
| term_end2 = 23 January 2018
| predecessor2 = K. Sivan
| successor2 = V. Narayanan
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1963|07}}
| birth_place = Thuravoor, Cherthala, Kerala, India
| alma_mater = Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering (B.Tech., Mechanical Engineering)
Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (M.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering)
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (PhD)
| spouse = Valsalakumari
| children = 2
| order = 10th
}}
Dr. Sreedhara Panicker Somanath (born July 1963) is an Indian aerospace engineer served as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).{{Cite web|title=Shri. S Somanath assumes charge as Secretary, Department of Space|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/14-jan-2022/shri-s-somanath-assumes-charge-secretary-department-of-space|access-date=15 January 2022|work=ISRO|archive-date=14 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114113533/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/14-jan-2022/shri-s-somanath-assumes-charge-secretary-department-of-space|url-status=dead}} Under his chairmanship, ISRO carried out the third Indian lunar exploration mission named Chandrayaan-3. The lander named Vikram and the rover named Pragyan landed near the lunar south pole region on 23 August 2023 at 18:04 IST, making India the first country to successfully land a spacecraft near the lunar south pole and the fourth country to demonstrate soft landing on the Moon.{{Cite news |date=6 July 2023 |title=Chandrayaan-3 launch on 14 July, lunar landing on 23 or 24 August |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/chandrayaan-3-launch-scheduled-for-july-14-at-235-pm/article67049236.ece |access-date=14 July 2023 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=11 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711031538/https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/chandrayaan-3-launch-scheduled-for-july-14-at-235-pm/article67049236.ece |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=India lands spacecraft near south pole of moon in historic first |language=en-IN |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/23/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-mission |access-date=23 August 2023 |archive-date=23 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823031538/https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2023/aug/23/india-chandrayaan-3-moon-landing-mission |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=What foreign media said on Chandrayaan-3's historic lunar feat |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/isro-chandrayaan-3-success-makes-global-headlines-2425581-2023-08-23 |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824031537/https://www.indiatoday.in/science/chandrayaan-3/story/isro-chandrayaan-3-success-makes-global-headlines-2425581-2023-08-23 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=चंद्रयान-3: भारत ने रचा इतिहास, चंद्रमा के दक्षिणी ध्रुव पर की सफल लैंडिंग |url=https://postinshort.in/news/india/india-created-history-by-achieving-success-in-soft-landing-on-the-south-pole-of-the-moon |access-date=23 August 2023 |website=Post Inshort |language=hi |archive-date=24 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824031459/https://postinshort.in/news/india/india-created-history-by-achieving-success-in-soft-landing-on-the-south-pole-of-the-moon |url-status=live }}
Somanath served as the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram and director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.{{Cite web|date=22 January 2018|title=Somanath takes charge as VSSC director|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/somanath-takes-charge-as-vssc-director-1151719-2018-01-22|access-date=22 January 2018|website=www.indiatoday.in|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072101/https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/somanath-takes-charge-as-vssc-director-1151719-2018-01-22|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/somanath-takes-charge-as-vssc-director-118012201055_1.html|title=Somanath takes charge as VSSC director|date=22 January 2018|newspaper=Business Standard India|access-date=22 January 2018|agency=Press Trust of India|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123190452/http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/somanath-takes-charge-as-vssc-director-118012201055_1.html|url-status=live}} Somanath is known for his contributions to launch vehicle design, particularly in the areas of launch vehicle systems engineering, structural design, structural dynamics, and pyrotechnics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.isro.gov.in/update/01-jun-2015/new-directors-three-major-isro-centres-three-major-isro-centres-have-new|title=New Directors for Three Major ISRO Centres: Three major ISRO Centres have new Directors from today.|date=1 June 2015|website=www.isro.gov.in|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123072311/https://www.isro.gov.in/update/01-jun-2015/new-directors-three-major-isro-centres-three-major-isro-centres-have-new|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/s-somnath-takes-charge-as-vikram-sarabhai-space-centres-director/articleshow/62609273.cms|title=S Somnath takes charge as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre's director|date=22 January 2018|first=Laxmi|last=Prasanna|website=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=26 May 2019|archive-date=19 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119221822/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/s-somnath-takes-charge-as-vikram-sarabhai-space-centres-director/articleshow/62609273.cms|url-status=live}}
Early life and education
Somanath was born in a Malayali Nair family{{Cite web |date=2023-08-29 |title=എസ്.സോമനാഥ് തുറവൂർ മഹാക്ഷേത്ര ദർശനം നടത്തി |url=https://keralakaumudi.com/news/mobile/news.php?id=1138590 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923063435/https://keralakaumudi.com/news/news.php?id=1138590 |archive-date=2023-09-23 |access-date=2023-08-30 |language=Malayalam}} as a child of V. Sreedhara Panicker, a Hindi teacher, and Thankamma at Thuravoor in Alappuzha district of Kerala.{{Cite news |date=13 January 2022 |title=New Isro chief S Somanath: All you need to know |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/new-isro-chief-s-somanath-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/88869735.cms |access-date=23 August 2023 |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=23 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230823131618/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/new-isro-chief-s-somanath-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/88869735.cms |url-status=live }}
Somanath studied at St. Augustine's High School, Aroor, and completed the Pre-Degree course from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam. He then received his graduate degree in mechanical engineering from Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, Kollam, and a master's degree in aerospace engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, with a specialization in dynamics and control. He was awarded a Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras).{{Cite web |title=Meet IIT Madras Alumni Who Played Crucial Role In Chandrayaan-3 Mission |url=https://www.ndtv.com/education/meet-iit-madras-alumni-who-played-crucial-role-in-chandrayaan-3-mission-4467984 |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}
Somanath is married to Valsala, with whom he has a daughter and a son.{{Cite web |date=2022-01-13 |title=എസ്. സോമനാഥിലൂടെ വാനംതൊട്ട് വീണ്ടും മലയാളിപ്പെരുമ |url=https://www.madhyamam.com/kerala/senior-rocket-scientist-somanath-is-new-isro-chairman-908815 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230830070223/https://www.madhyamam.com/amp/kerala/senior-rocket-scientist-somanath-is-new-isro-chairman-908815 |archive-date=2023-08-30 |access-date=30 August 2023 |website=Madhyamam |language=Malayalam}}
Career
After his graduation, Somanath joined the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in 1985. He was associated with the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle project during its initial phase. He became associate director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and the project director of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III launch vehicle in 2010. He was also the deputy director of the Propulsion and Space Ordnance Entity till November 2014.
In June 2015, he took over as director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre at Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram and served until January 2018. Somanath took over as director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre from K. Sivan who became chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation. In January 2022, he took over as the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, again succeeding K. Sivan.
In recognition of his contributions to the field of science, Somanath was awarded a Doctorate of Science (Honoris Causa) on 25 September by SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, on the occasion of the 18th Annual Convocation.{{cite web | url=https://bloncampus.thehindubusinessline.com/engineering/srm-kattankulathur-hosts-18th-convocation/article65935099.ece | title=SRMIST hosts 18th convocation | date=25 September 2022 | access-date=13 February 2023 | archive-date=13 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213073110/https://bloncampus.thehindubusinessline.com/engineering/srm-kattankulathur-hosts-18th-convocation/article65935099.ece | url-status=live }}{{cite web | url=https://www.seasonalmagazine.com/2022/09/srms-mega-convocation-for-7380-graduands.html | title=SRM's Mega Convocation for 7380 Graduands | access-date=13 February 2023 | archive-date=13 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213073112/https://www.seasonalmagazine.com/2022/09/srms-mega-convocation-for-7380-graduands.html | url-status=live }} On 23 August 2023, he as ISRO chairman spearheaded the soft landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the South Pole of the lunar surface along with other notable senior ISRO scientists.
Somanath earned his PhD from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Madras and was awarded his doctorate during the institute's 61st convocation on 19 July 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-19 |title=ISRO Chairman Somnath Gets PhD in Engineering from IIT Madras |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/education/isro-chairman-somnath-gets-phd-in-engineering-from-iit-madras-article-111867735 |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=Times Now |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-07-19 |title=Village boy to ISRO chief to IIT PhD: The inspirational journey of Dr S Somanath |url=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/village-boy-to-isro-chief-to-iit-phd-inspirational-journey-of-dr-s-somanath-742486 |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=WION |language=en-us}}
Somanath completed his 3-year tenure as ISRO's Chairman on 14 January 2025 and this period is hailed as one of the best in the history of ISRO. Successful Chandrayaan-3 mission, Aditya-L1 launch and impact developments on the Gaganyaan front all put Somanath as a leader who delivered, inspiring his team and the nation. The headlines were univocal in declaring that he left a legacy with unparalleled achievements.{{Cite news |date=2025-02-14 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/isro-gets-new-chief-v-narayanan-as-s-somnath-leaves-after-conquering-sun-and-moon-2664221-2025-01-14 | title = Isro gets new chief as S Somnath leaves after conquering Sun and Moon | access-date=2025-02-28 | website=India Today |language=en}}
He was succeeded by V. Narayanan.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-07 |title=Isro to get new chief: Dr V Narayanan to take over from S Somnath on Jan 14 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/dr-v-narayanan-to-succeed-s-somnath-as-isro-chief-on-january-14-2661233-2025-01-07 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=India Today |language=en}}
Awards
Uttarakhand Technical University conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Literature (D.Litt.) on him during its 7th convocation held on 10 October 2023.{{Cite news |date=2023-10-11 |title=Uttarakhand Technical University confers DLitt to Isro chairman |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/uttarakhand-technical-university-confers-dlitt-to-isro-chairman/articleshow/104330689.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024074219/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/uttarakhand-technical-university-confers-dlitt-to-isro-chairman/articleshow/104330689.cms |archive-date=2023-10-24 |access-date=2024-02-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}
In 2014, S Somnath received performance excellence award for GSLV Mk-III realization from ISRO.{{Cite web |title=S Somanath: Personal Life, Education, Awards and Honors, Salary |url=https://www.pw.live/exams/gate/s-somanath/}}{{Cite web |title=Shri S. Somanath |url=https://www.vssc.gov.in/VSSC/somanathDir.html}}{{Cite web |title=Alumnus Shri S Somanath appointed next ISRO Chair |url=https://iisc.ac.in/events/alumnus-shri-s-somanath-appointed-next-isro-chair/}} In 2023, the Government of Karnataka felicitated him with the prestigious Rajyotsava award.{{Cite web |title=Karnataka Rajyotsava award presented to ISRO's S Somnath, journalist Maya Sharma and 66 others |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/karnataka/karnataka-rajyotsava-award-presented-to-isros-s-somnath-journalist-maya-sharma-and-66-others}}{{Cite web |title=ISRO Chairman S Somanath Among 68 Awardees Of Karnataka's Rajyotsava Award |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/national/isro-chairman-s-somanath-among-68-awardees-of-karnataka-s-rajyotsava-award-news-327925}} He also received the K.P.P Nambiar Award in February 2024.[https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/kpp-nambiar-award-conferred-on-isro-chairman-s-somanath/article67837378.ece]
In October 2024, he won the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) World Space Award at Milan, Italy, for the huge success of Chandrayaan-3 in 2023.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-15 |title=Global Recognition: ISRO Chief S Somanath Wins IAF World Space Award For Chandrayaan-3 |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/bt-tv/video/global-recognition-isro-chief-s-somanath-wins-iaf-world-space-award-for-chandrayaan-3-450143-2024-10-15 |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=Business Today |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Arora |first=Sumit |date=2024-10-15 |title=ISRO Chairman S. Somanath Receives Prestigious IAF World Space Award for Chandrayaan-3 |url=https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/isro-chairman-s-somanath-receives-prestigious-iaf-world-space-award-for-chandrayaan-3/ |access-date=2024-10-19 |website=adda247 |language=en-IN}}
References
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{{s-ttl|title=Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation|years=2022-present}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre|years=2018-2022}}
{{s-aft|after=S. Unnikrishnan Nair}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Somanath, S.}}
Category:Indian Space Research Organisation people
Category:Indian Institute of Science alumni
Category:Scientists from Thiruvananthapuram
Category:Indian aerospace engineers