Kailasavadivoo Sivan

Biography

Significantly impacting the development of launch vehicle technologies, the space systems engineering expertise and leadership of Byrana N. Suresh and Kailasavadivoo Sivan have been instrumental in the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) becoming one of the world’s top space agencies known for launching successful missions at low cost. Suresh and Sivan joined ISRO in 1969 and 1980, respectively, and at different points in time served as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, a lead center for development of launch vehicles. Sivan was chief architect of the 6D trajectory simulation software SITARA used for mission planning of ISRO launch vehicles and of the day-of-launch wind-biasing strategy that has allowed all-weather launches. He guided the development of th reusable launch vehicle RLV-TD, which was flown successfully. He took over the GSLV project team and guided it to successful launches. Sivan also implemented the strategy for the upper-stage (PS4) restart capability for the PSLV, which improves mission versatility by injecting different payloads in different orbits during a single mission. The contributions of Suresh and Sivan have enabled ISRO to achieve success in several complex missions, including the 2014 Mangalyaan vehicle, which was successful in orbiting Mars in its very first attempt. Sivan played a key role in ISRO setting a world record by launching 104 satellites from a single rocket in 2017.

Recipient of the 2018 Lokmanya Tilak Award and 24th HK Firodia Vijnan Ratna Award for the year 2019, Sivan is Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.