Appointments

ISRO Appoints Dr. U.P. Rajeev as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Friday, 26 June 2026 2 min readSource: Deccan HeraldArticle 9 of 19

In late June 2026 (announced 26 June 2026), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) appointed senior scientist Dr. U.P. Rajeev as the new Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram — ISRO's lead centre for launch-vehicle technology — with effect from 1 July 2026. He succeeds Dr. A. Rajarajan, who retired on superannuation. Rajeev, who was serving as Associate Director (Research & Development) at VSSC, has decades of experience in rocket control and guidance systems and has led the mission design and simulation of major ISRO launch vehicles. The same set of changes saw N. Jayan named Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) and Joji J. Chaman as head of the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), also from July 1.

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
ISRO appointed Dr. U.P. Rajeev as Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram (announced 26 June 2026).
2
He takes charge from 1 July 2026, succeeding Dr. A. Rajarajan (retired).
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VSSC is ISRO's premier centre for launch-vehicle design and development.
4
Rajeev was previously Associate Director (R&D) at VSSC, an expert in rocket control and guidance.
5
N. Jayan was named Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) from July 1.
6
Joji J. Chaman will head the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU) from July 1.

Deep Dive

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VSSC was established in 1963 as the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) and later renamed after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai.
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Rajeev led mission design and simulation for major launch vehicles, key to ISRO's launch programme.
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The leadership changes come as ISRO advances projects like the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) and Gaganyaan.

Exam Focus

Who was appointed Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in June 2026, and what is VSSC's primary role?

Exam Relevance & Angle

ISRO leadership appointments — the person and the centre — are recurring science and appointments GA facts. VSSC's role as India's launch-vehicle hub and the cluster of July-1 directorial changes make this a testable item.

Target Exams

SBI POIBPS POIBPS RRB OfficerRBI Grade BSSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is ISRO's lead centre for the design and development of launch vehicles such as the PSLV and LVM3. It traces its origins to the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS), set up in 1963, and was later renamed after Dr. Vikram Sarabhai, regarded as the father of India's space programme. ISRO's other Thiruvananthapuram units include the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) and the ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU). Directors of these centres are senior scientists appointed by ISRO; such appointments matter as ISRO pursues major programmes like Gaganyaan and the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV).