Who is Known as the Rocket Man of India?

India has achieved remarkable success in space and missile technology, thanks to the efforts of brilliant scientists. One individual played a key role in advancing these fields, earning widespread recognition for their contributions. Their inspiring work continuing to motivate millions and has left a lasting impact on India’s scientific and technological progress. In this article,  we will know about the person who is known as the “Rocket Man of India.”

Rocket Man of India

Kailasavadivoo Sivan, popularly known as the “Rocket Man of India,” is a well-known aerospace engineer who also worked as the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He is admired for his major role in strengthening India’s space missions, especially in designing and developing powerful launch vehicles.

Early Life of K. Sivan

K. Sivan was born on April 14, 1957, in Sarakkalvilai, a village near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu. He grew up in a farming family, with his father being a mango farmer. Sivan was the first person in his family to attend college. He completed his early education in Tamil medium schools in his village before pursuing higher studies.

Education of K. Sivan

Sivan studied in Tamil medium government schools in his village. He was the first graduate in his family.

• He completed his bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering from Madras Institute of Technology in 1980.
• He earned a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, in 1982.
• He later obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in aerospace engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay, in 2006.

Sivan is a fellow of prestigious organizations like the Indian National Academy of Engineering and the Aeronautical Society of India.

Career in ISRO

Sivan joined the ISRO in 1982 and played a vital role in developing India’s launch vehicles.

• He contributed significantly to the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) project.
• Sivan led the revival of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) program.
• He developed the 6D trajectory simulation software known as SITARA, used in mission planning.

Leadership Roles

• Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre: Sivan was appointed as the director on July 2, 2014.
• Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre: He served from 2015 to 2018.
• Chairman of ISRO: He became ISRO’s chief in January 2018 and held the position until January 2022.

Major Achievements of K. Sivan

Under Sivan’s leadership, ISRO launched several landmark missions:

• Chandrayaan-2 (2019): The second lunar mission involved an orbiter, a lander and a rover. Although the lander and rover crashed, the orbiter continues to study the moon.
• He extended ISRO’s reach by working on various advanced space programs.

Awards and Recognition

K. Sivan has received several prestigious awards, including:

• Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Award (2019): For his contributions to space technology.
• IEEE Simon Ramo Medal (2020): Shared with Byrana N. Suresh for engineering achievements.

Personal Life and Legacy of Rocket Man of India

Sivan is admired for his humble beginnings and hard work. His leadership and technical expertise earned him the title “Rocket Man of India.”

Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Board of Governors at IIT Indore. Sivan’s journey inspires countless young engineers and scientists to dream big and contribute to India’s space exploration efforts.