S. Unnikrishnan Nair is a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC). He played a key role in the design and development of indigenous rocket technology and played a leading role in various experiments for the Gaganyaan mission, aimed at sending Indian astronauts into space, for which he received numerous accolades from ISRO. He is the founder of the Human Space Flight Center in Bangalore. He was also involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which successfully landed on the moon in August 2023.
Wiki/Biography
S. Unnikrishnan Nair was born in Kottayam, Kerala, India. He studied at NSS High School, Manjore, Kerala and Emmanuel High School, Kottanalore, Kerala. In 1978, he studied at Devamata College in Kuravirangad, Kerala. Thereafter, he studied at Athanasius College of Engineering, Mar, University of Kerala, where he received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Thereafter, he joined the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, Karnataka and received his Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1995. He received his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. (IITM). He holds a Master’s degree in Telecom and Space Law from the National Academy of Legal Studies (NALSAR), Hyderabad. He has also completed many engineering courses abroad. Unnikrishnan said in an interview that he had no intention of becoming an ISRO scientist. After graduation, he applied for jobs in several advertising companies. Talking about this, he said,
So by my final semester, I started applying for jobs at advertising agencies, and I saw the same things as everyone else. So I applied to VSSC and had an interview. When his last semester ended, he started working here. After coming here I liked the area and decided to stay here. “
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′8″
Hair color: black
Eye color: dark brown
S. Unnikrishnan Nair with Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan
family
Parents and siblings
His father Sreedharan Nair is an employee of the Kottayam Investigation Office. His mother’s name was Rajama.
S. Unnikrishnan Nair and his mother
wife and children
His wife Jaya G. Nair worked as a computer engineer at VSSC. She also served at the National Center for Software Technology (NCST). The couple has two daughters, Aishwarya Nair, an architect, and Chaithanya Nair, who has a degree in psychology. Chaithanya is a model and actress who played a small role in the 2022 Malayalam film Jana Gana Mana.
Photo taken by S. Unnikrishnan Nair and Jaya G. Nair at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center
Photos of Chaitanya Nair
Profession
S. Unnikrishnan Nair started working as an engineer at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram in 1985. There, he played an important role in the design and development of the polar launch vehicle mechanism, acoustic protection system, and payload fairing. Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and Mark-III Launch Vehicle (LVM3). He has since been involved in numerous projects aimed at developing a system for monitoring rocket performance after launch. He served as program director for the Advanced Space Transportation Systems Program, an integrated program designed to coordinate disparate technological advances in human spaceflight, reusable launch vehicles, air-breathing propulsion and advanced test vehicles. He also served as Deputy Director of Structural Entities at VSSC. In 2022, he was appointed as Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre. In an interview, talking about becoming a director, he said:
An important responsibility is the Gaganyaan programme. VSSC is undertaking many activities related to this. Additionally, SSLV and other important satellite missions deserve attention. Priority will be given to accelerating tasks that have been slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic. “
Gaganyan
In 2004, he became a member of ISRO’s first team of scientists for the Human Spaceflight Program (HSP) and started working on the development of the Gaganyaan spacecraft, which aims to launch Indian astronauts into space by 2025. He worked on the HSP program for several years before being promoted to Program Director. Under his leadership, the team works to define vehicle configurations, engineer onboard systems and develop technologies critical to the spacecraft.
S. Unnikrishnan Nair (sixth from left) and other ISRO scientists pose in front of the Gaganyaan process model
Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE)
While working on the Gaganyaan project, he participated in the SRE project, which aimed to study methods of recovering spacecraft landed on Earth, the effects of microgravity on spacecraft orbiting in space, and the implementation of information collected from SRE. Spacecraft design and development. In January 2007, ISRO successfully conducted the SRE test. He was instrumental in designing parachutes and other recovery systems for SRE and organizing synergies between various government agencies such as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). He also involved the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard in the project, seeking their help in formulating standard operating procedures for recovering the re-entry spacecraft carrying Indian astronauts from the sea.
Photos taken after the successful test of the space capsule
Crew Cabin Reentry Experiment (CARE)
In December 2014, ISRO successfully tested the CARE experiment with the aim of applying the lessons learned into the design of the Gaganyaan spacecraft. The experiment is based on the SRE experiment conducted by ISRO in 2007. Unnikrishnan serves as payload director on the experiment. He leads a team of scientists who develop key technologies to safely transport spacecraft payloads to outer space and bring them back to Earth.
Indian Navy personnel recover CARE module
crew escape system
As mission director, he led a team of scientists who designed and developed the crew escape system for the Gaganyan mission. This system allows astronauts to escape in an emergency and plays an important role in ensuring astronaut safety. On July 5, 2018, ISRO successfully conducted an escape capsule test.
Photos taken during testing of ISRO crew escape system
Manned Space Flight Center (HSFC)
In 2019, S. Unnikrishnan Nair founded HSFC in Bengaluru and became its first director. The responsibilities of HSFC include coordinating and implementing various projects under Project Gaganyaan such as mission planning, creating engineering systems to ensure crew survival in space, conducting crew selection and training and conducting research to support India’s future manned space missions . He serves as a director of the company until February 2022.
Photos taken by S. Unnikrishnan Nair during the inauguration ceremony of HSFC, Bengaluru
Chandrayaan 3
In 2019, Unnikrishnan became a member of the team involved in the development of the third lunar probe mission, Chandrayaan-3. The LVM3-M4 rocket he designed, carrying the Chandrayaan-3, was launched as planned from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 2:35 pm (Indian Standard Time) on July 14, 2023.
Photo of the rocket carrying Chandrayaan-3
After thirty-nine days of space travel, the spacecraft arrived at its destination, the lunar south pole, on August 23, 2023. The spacecraft made a soft landing on the lunar surface at 6:04 pm IST. After the successful landing, the entire team of the project was congratulated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the European Space Agency (ESA). ISRO Chief S. Somanath informed the Prime Minister about the success of Chandrayaan-3 through a video call and said:
We have achieved a soft landing on the moon. India is on the moon. “
South African Prime Minister Narendra Modi witnessed the landing of Chandrayaan-3 via video call
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- S. Unnikrishnan Nair received the Team Excellence Award from ISRO in 2007 for his contribution to the SRE experiment.
- Unnikrishnan Nair was awarded the Excellence Award by ISRO for his contribution to the successful CARE experiment in 2014.
- In the same year, Unnikrishnan received the ISRO Individual Merit Award for his contribution to the Gaganyaan project.
- In 2018, he was awarded the ISRO Excellence Award for his role as team leader in the occupant escape system abort testing.
- In 2019, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Satyabhama Institute of Science and Technology in recognition of his contribution to the Gaganyaan project.
S. Unnikrishnan Nair receives honorary doctorate from IIST
- In 2022, he received the Atmanirbhar Award from the Indian Society of Analytical Sciences (ISAS).
- In the same year, he received the National Systems Gold Medal from the Indian Systems Association.
Facts/Trivia
- Unnikrishan Nair served as a member and secretary of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). He also led several Indian delegations to participate in international space symposiums held in Russia, which led to the signing of a number of agreements on space exploration between Russia and India.
- In 2022, he was appointed director of the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST).
- He was the President of Trivandrum Chapter of Indian National Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Allied Mechanism (INSARM).
- S. Unnikrishnan Nair is an avid traveler who loves visiting new places.
- He has a keen interest in reading.
- Apart from his astronomical feats, Unnikrishnan is also an environmentalist and has undertaken many projects to protect nature and forests.
- He has written extensively on nature and space for several Malayalam magazines.
Article written by Unnikrishnan for Malayalam Magazine Photos
- Unnikrishnan Nair has authored more than 12 research papers, including experimental and computational studies of coupled resonant cavity systems in 2010 and scramjet flight testing in 2018.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education