ISRO’s Madhavan Nair to head international aerospace body

Panaji: Indian Space Research Organisation chairman G Madhavan Nair has been elected as the president of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA), becoming the first Indian and also the first non-American to head the renowned scientific body, an official said here Monday.

Nair, who is presently IAA's vice president for scientific activities, will take over from Edward Stone at the International Astronautical Congress to be held in Korea later this year, according to IAA secretary general JM Contant. Nair term as IAA president will continue till 2011.

The announcement was made at the ongoing conference on Low Cost Planetary Missions being held here.

The IAA was founded in Sweden in 1960 and as an organisation aims to foster development of astronautics for peaceful purposes, recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in a related branch of science or technology and provide a programme through which members may contribute to international endeavours for the advancement of aerospace science.

Madhavan Nair is a leading technologist in the field of rocket systems and has made significant contributions to the development of multi-stage satellite launch vehicles, achieving self-reliance in space-related activities through the use of indigenous technologies.

After numerous contributions in the development of the first Indian Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3), he was tasked with the responsibility of developing the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle as its project director.