1988 - M.Tech - Mechanical Engineering Program Director, Space Transportation Systems (STS) @ Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, India
Dr. G. Ayyappan is a liquid propulsion specialist and a systems engineer in the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). He completed his B.Sc. (Engg.) from College of Engineering, Kerala University in 1982, M.Tech from IIT Madras in 1987 and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kerala University in 2017.
Since joining ISRO in 1982, he has spearheaded some of the most important projects crucial for the country’s space research. He led the ‘Team ISRO’ as Vehicle Director for GSLV MK-III experimental flight-LVM3-X/CARE Mission to a successful flight on December 18, 2014. He was subsequently designated as the Project Director of GSLV MK-III, the most challenging new generation launch vehicle of ISRO for 4T class GSO satellites. He led the project techno-managerially during the crucial phase of development and qualification of vehicle systems. He was Mission Director in the first flight of the rocket on 5th June 2017, which was a success. Notably, GSLV MK-III is also the rocket which is intended to carry out India’s first manned mission. Currently, he is the Programme Director, Space Transportation System at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram. In 2017, he also worked as the configuration design architect of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) with its state of the art design for cost effectiveness. Currently while discharging his duties as Programme Director, Space Transportation System, Dr. G Ayyappan provides inspiring leadership to technologies intended for recovery and reuse of launch vehicle stages and in the design and development of special purpose to flight demonstrate re-entry and Re-usable launch vehicles and also evaluating the Gaganyan Crew Escape System in different ascent flight trajectory states. Previously, he also served as project manager responsible for configuration design of Liquid Propulsion Stages L40, GS2 and control systems of GSLV and as project manager responsible for system engineering of liquid propulsion, Cyro propulsion and control systems in the GSLV MK-III project.
Dr. G Ayyappan has been bestowed with many awards during his career, which includes the ISRO individual Merit Award and ISRO Team Excellence Awards in the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014 and as Team Leader in 2017. He was also a member of the Kerala University Syllabus Committee for engineering as well as Pass Board. He takes great pride in associating with activities which foster development of engineering discipline in the country and is instrumental in organizing/spearheading technical seminars and other conferences towards that.
For his contribution to Research and Development of space technology in India, IIT Madras and its alumni are proud to confer this award upon Dr. G Ayyappan.
