Our Director

        Mr. Narayanan Appu, Distinguished Scientist, assumed the charge of Director, ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri on 01/07/2026.

       Before becoming Director, IPRC, he held several key positions like Associate Director, IPRC; Deputy Director, Cryogenic propulsion-system Testing Entity; Head, Administrative Service, IPRC; Vigilance Officer, IPRC; General Manager, Cryogenic & Semicryogenic Subsystem Test Facility; Group Head, Design & Analysis, Head, Safety & Fire Service; etc. He continues to hold the responsibility of Project Director, Integrated Cryogenic Engine & stage Test facility.

       He did Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering in College of Engineering Guindy, Anna University, Chennai. He joined Indian Space Research Organization at Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Mahendragiri (presently ISRO Propulsion Complex) in 1989.

       He specialized in Cryogenic process engineering, especially related to rocket propulsion test & evaluation. He played crucial role in design, engineering, establishment, operation, and maintenance of vital infrastructural facilities for testing of cryogenic and semi-cryogenic propulsion systems for ISRO's launch vehicle program such as Hydrogen & Helium liquefier plant; cryogenic Main Engine & stage Test facility; Thrust Chamber Test facility; Cryogenic Subsystem Test facility; Semicryogenic Cold Flow Test facility; etc. He was instrumental in several anomaly-simulation testing of propulsion system based on flight observation with regard to engine startup transient operating sequence, booster turbopump cavitation characterization, etc and in development of Nozzle protection system enabling testing of engine with overexpanded nozzle under sea-level environment. He also steers teams for development of Green hypergolic bipropellant for crew-module propulsion, In-situ propellant production for Moon/ Mars mission, Helium recovery system, etc. He heads/ participates in several technical committees in ISRO. His areas of interest include cryogenic process, propulsion testing and Hydrogen safety.

       He was awarded with Space Gold Medal by Astronautical Society of India in 2002 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to propulsion-system testing. He also received ISRO Team excellence award in 2016 for CE20 cryogenic engine development and ISRO Individual merit award in 2017. He is a member of National Hydrogen Safety Panel under Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. He is member in several professional bodies like Indian National Academy of Engineering, Indian Cryogenics Council, Indian Society of Heat & Mass Transfer, Astronautical Society of India, Aeronautical Society of India and Indian Society of Systems for Science & Engineering.