Betting on liquids
S. Nambi Narayanan was born on 12 December 1941 in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu. In ISRO’s early decades solid propulsion was dominant, but he recognised the strategic importance of liquid propulsion.
He was connected with training and technology collaboration in France, and played an important part in acquiring, adapting and building up the institution around liquid-propulsion technology.
Vikas
He held a senior technical role in developing the Vikas engine ecosystem. This engine family later became a key workhorse of PSLV and GSLV stages.
Liquid engines greatly expanded the payload capability and flexibility of India’s launch vehicles. Engine development was a team process, and the technical credit belongs in that team context.
1994 and after
In 1994 he was arrested in an espionage case. After a CBI investigation and Supreme Court proceedings the charges were found baseless, and he received compensation and relief. The case seriously affected his scientific career and personal life, and later judicial findings recognised the wrongful treatment.
In scientific institutions, due process and individual rights matter as much as technology goals.
Sources
- PIB: Nambi Narayanan profile and film context
- ISRO
- Supreme Court of India
- pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1837273&lang=2®=48
- isro.gov.in/
- sci.gov.in/