“It’s really for our teamwork,” was how Jayan N., who recently took over as Project Director of Indian Space Research Organisation’s ambitious Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), reacted to the news of his winning the Vigyan Shri award on Saturday.
Mr. Jayan has won the award in the Space Science and Technology division of the 2025 edition of the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar (RVP), the highest awards in the field of Science and Technology. It recognises his contributions to developing cryogenic engines for ISRO launch vehicles during his long stint at ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
Joining the LPSC in 1991 after graduation, Mr. Jayan has worked all along on ISRO’s efforts to perfect the ‘desi’ cryogenic engine. He has put in considerable work on the design and development of cryogenic engines for the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the Launch Vehicle Mark-3 or LVM3, previously known as GSLV Mk-III. In this area, he worked with the current ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, who is a former LPSC Director and expert on cryogenic propulsion.
“This award recognises not just an individual contribution,” said Mr. Jayan, who rose to become a Deputy Director at LPSC. “A cryogenic engine cannot be developed by one or two people. It’s a big activity involving all ISRO centres,” he said.
