Rajarajan, a composites expert and key force behind Vikram-S, named new VSSC director
He will assume charge on August 1, succeeding S Unnikrishnan Nair, who is set to retire on July 31. Dr Rajarajan currently serves as Director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota.
A veteran in the Indian space sector with nearly four decades of experience, Dr Rajarajan is widely regarded as an expert in composite materials, critical for building lightweight, durable, and high-strength structures used in satellites, spacecraft, and launch vehicles.
During his tenure at SDSC SHAR, Dr Rajarajan played a pivotal role in enhancing launch infrastructure to meet the growing demands of ISRO's ambitious missions, including the Human Space Programme (Gaganyaan) and the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
25 minutes ago
- India.com
What Happens When An Astronaut Comes Home? Shubhanshu Shukla Shares His Gravity Shock
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, a part of the historic Axiom-4 mission, is giving insightful comments about his re-accustomization to Earth's gravity following a 20-day stay on the International Space Station (ISS). At a virtual press conference on Friday, Shukla explained how even ordinary objects suddenly felt impressively heavy, narrating a hilarious experience when he dropped a laptop anticipating it to float. Shukla and his Axiom-4 crew members, who took off from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on June 25 and landed on Earth on July 15, interacted with the media online, reminiscing about their experience on the mission. This was a historic event for India, as Shukla became the second Indian to travel to space, after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's trailblazing journey in 1984. VIDEO | "I remember the homework our PM had given me and I have completed it very well," says Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the mission pilot for Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4). (Source - Third party) (Full video available on PTI Videos - — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 1, 2025 "Back in space after 41 years, a Bharatiya, but not a single jump this time. It was the launch of India's second orbit. And this time, we are prepared, not to fly, but to lead," declared Shukla, underlining the re-entry of India in space exploration. For Lucknow native Shukla, a highlight was his meeting with the "Prime Minister of Bharat" on June 28, with the Indian flag visibly drifting behind him. He termed this as a watershed moment marking India's re-entry into international space chatter as an equal contributor. The astronaut spoke openly about having to re-adjust to the gravitational pull of the Earth. He remembered his mobile phone feeling "heavy" when a colleague asked for a photo, a sharp contrast to its weightlessness in space. In a second funny story, he remembered dropping his laptop near the bed, expecting it to float. "Fortunately, the floor was carpeted, so no harm was done," he laughed. As for the Axiom-4 mission itself, Shukla explained that it "surpassed his expectations" and offered priceless learning experiences that will be invaluable to India's future Gaganyaan mission. He considered his mission to be more than simply that of a spacefarer, envisioning himself as a "messenger demonstrating what's achievable." Shukla, who is expected to return to India in mid-August, said that he religiously did all "homework" that Prime Minister Modi gave him while he was on the space station, including keeping a careful record of all details of the mission. He was keen to offer his recorded insights, sure that this information "is going to prove extremely useful and crucial for our own Gaganyaan mission." Emphasising the wider mission of these space missions, Shukla pointed to their principal aim: to encourage the next generation and inculcate them with the confidence that they too can be explorers. He pointed to the mission's initial success in this respect, with children already asking for ways to become astronauts.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Breakthrough In Liver Cirrhosis Treatment: Indian Scientists Develop New Approach
New Delhi: A team of Indian scientists has found a new way to treat liver cirrhosis, by targeting the lymphatic vessels in the liver and intestine that fail in case of cirrhosis. Chronic liver disease can progress from mild disease to fibrosis to cirrhosis (also known as scarring). Cirrhosis is accompanied by the distortion of both blood and lymphatic vessels in the liver and the intestine. Patients with advanced cirrhosis often develop complications like fluid accumulation in the abdomen. A team of scientists from the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS), New Delhi, and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Guwahati, focussed on improving the drainage capacity of lymphatic vessels in the liver and intestine by using nanocarriers filled with a powerful protein called VEGF-C. Pic Credits: IANS 'Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is a key pro-lymphangiogenic factor that activates lymphangiogenesis or new lymphatic vessel growth. It does this through binding to a cell membrane tyrosine kinase receptor, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3), the activation of which is essential for the growth and development of new lymphatic vessels,' said the researchers. The team probed the therapeutic efficacy of VEGF-C in ameliorating gut lymphatic dysfunction and improving lymph drainage. Owing to the hydrophilicity, short half-life, and systemic side effects of VEGF-C, the team led by Dr Subham Banerjee from NIPER Guwahati first focused on the development of VEGF-C encapsulated reverse micelle-based nanocarriers, which specifically bind to VEGFR-3 homodimers. Next, the ILBS team, led by Dr Savneet Kaur, tested the developed VEGF-C nanocarriers extensively in animal models of advanced cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The developed molecule was delivered via the oral route to ensure its gut lymphatic vessel uptake in the animal models. The team showed that VEGF-C nanocarriers significantly increased mesenteric lymph drainage, which reduced ascites. Importantly, the treatment also led to an attenuation of the portal pressures, improved cytotoxic T-cell immunity in mesenteric lymph nodes, and reduced local and systemic bacterial load. The research, published in the JHEP Reports journal, is the first to highlight that therapeutic lymphangiogenesis with VEGF-C is a promising treatment for reconstructing the fragmented lymphatic network and restoring lymphatic function and drainage in advanced cirrhosis.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India targets 8 to 10% share in the commercial satellite launch market, says ISRO chief
By K Praveen Kumar The Indian space sector is aiming to achieve an 8 to 10 % share in the global commercial space market over the next 10 years, and for that, a lot of work needs to be done, ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan said here on Friday. In an exclusive interview with PTI Videos, Narayanan said India needs to improve infrastructure, industry-led development, and manufacturing capabilities. At present, India's share in the global commercial space market is less than 2%. "In the initial phase of our activities, we were not focusing on the commercial aspect. But today, we are in the commercial field," Narayanan said. He said India's OneWeb India Mission helped improve the country's commercial credibility-a project indigenously developed due to geopolitical reasons following the Ukraine war. "Using one rocket, we had to place 36 satellites into orbit. Achieving a difference of just a few centimetres in orbital placement is not an easy task. We accomplished it through a unique scheme, demonstrating a commercially successful mission. It surprised the entire international community," he said. He added that India has so far carried out 14 commercial launches. "A country that did not have satellite technology, launch vehicle technology, or application-oriented capability 50 years ago has now launched 433 satellites for 32 countries. So, we are in the game," he said. Narayanan said ISRO would soon launch a 6,500-kg commercial satellite from the United States using its Mark III rocket, the last of three missions India is undertaking in coordination with NASA. India had successfully launched the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) satellite-the costliest satellite launched so far-on July 30 using the Mark II F16 rocket. The ISRO chairman said that since the Prime Minister rolled out space sector reforms to encourage public-private partnerships, capacity building has been steadily increasing. "Ten years ago, we hardly had one startup working in the space area. Today, we have over 300 startups operating in the sector," Narayanan said. He noted that demand for space-based services has been rising across sectors. "For example, earlier, if someone approached a bank for an agricultural loan, officials had to physically verify the land and the crops being cultivated. Now, they can assess the data in real time. Similarly, in the event of a drought, real-time assessments can be done from indoors, instead of through physical surveys. "A lot of real-time data processing is happening, and data with up to five-centimetre resolution is available free of cost. People can process this data and use it for multiple purposes," he added. He said other countries are now approaching India for their space requirements, recognizing the country's technological advancements. "Don't think India is the India of 1947. Today, we are a spacefaring, dynamic nation. For example, on the 30th of last month, we launched NASA's NISAR satellite, worth ₹10,300 crore. NASA came to India for the launch. That shows our technological capability, advancement, and the precision with which our people work. This is what's motivating other countries to come to us," he said. When asked whether ongoing trade restrictions and tariff policies under the Trump administration might affect space collaboration between India and the U S, Narayanan said the subject is beyond his "domain of expertise". "These two things-politics and science-have to be separated. I am a technocrat, and that question is beyond my domain," he said. However, the ISRO chief added, "Technologically, we are in an advanced state. So whatever contracts we have signed, we are going to execute. That is all I can comment on." Welcoming the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in the Indian space sector, Narayanan said ISRO alone cannot meet growing market demand, and the private sector has a significant role to play. "When I joined ISRO, there used to be one launch every three years. This year, we plan to have one launch every month. Now, you may ask why we need so many launches. So far, we have developed 132 satellites, of which 55 are currently in orbit, serving the people of this country. "These services ensure national safety and security. Do you know how many satellites are required for that? Two years ago, our counterparts deployed 100 satellites in a single year. The demand for satellite technology is enormous," Narayanan said. He projected that in another three years, ISRO may need to have three times the current number of satellites in orbit to meet demand. "ISRO alone cannot do this. It is a government organisation. Over the last 10 years, our manpower has grown by less than five %. That's why the private sector needs to step in, in a big way," he said. He concluded by stating that, based on current demand, India should be launching three rockets per month to meet the country's requirements.
