S. Unnikrishnan Nair is an Indian aerospace engineer presently serving as the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).[1] He is known for his works in the field of launch vehicle design, Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE), and Human Spaceflight Programme. Prior to his directorship of VSSC, he was Director of Human Space Flight Centre, Bengaluru.
S. Unnikrishnan Nair | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology | |
| Assumed office 7 February 2022 | |
| Preceded by | S. Somanath |
| Director of Human Space Flight Centre | |
| In office January 2019 – 7 February 2022 | |
| Succeeded by | Umamaheswaran R |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Mar Athanasius College of Engineering (B. Tech) Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru (M.Tech., Aerospace Engineering) IIT Madras (PhD in Mechanical Engineering) |
Early life and education
editS. Unnikrishnan Nair was born to Sreedharan Nair, who was an employee at the Kottayam Survey Office, and Rajamma.[2]
Nair received his B.Tech. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mar Athanasius College of Engineering affiliated to Kerala University, ME in Aerospace Engineering from IISc, Bengaluru,[3] and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Madras, Chennai.[citation needed]
Career
editNair joined VSSC in 1985. He is currently the director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.
He was holding the additional charge of the director at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology during the year 2022 to 2024.
Personal life
editS. Unnikrishnan Nair is married to Jaya G Nair, a former Computer Engineer at VSSC. The couple have two daughters.[2]
Awards and honors
edit- ISRO Team Excellence Award for his contributions to SRE.[4]
References
edit- ^ "Dr Unnikrishnan Nair Appointed VSSC Director". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ a b Daily, Keralakaumudi. "ഡോ.എസ്. ഉണ്ണികൃഷ്ണൻനായർ വി.എസ്.എസ്.സി. ഡയറക്ടർ" [Dr. S. Unnikrishnan Nair appointed as VSSC director]. Keralakaumudi Daily (in Malayalam). Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Alumnus Dr S Unnikrishnan Nair taken charge as Director, VSSC". IISc. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "Launch Vehicle specialist Unnikrishnan Nair becomes chief of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre". India Today. Retrieved 7 November 2022.