G. Madhavan Nair
ISRO chairman who launched Chandrayaan-1
- Age
- 83 yrs
- Birthday in 361 days
- Works listed
- 0
- Career highlights
- Honours
- 2
- Most recent 2009
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G. Madhavan Nair is a rocket scientist who chaired ISRO from 2003 to 2009, a period that included India’s first Moon mission, Chandrayaan-1. He earlier led development of the PSLV rocket and received the Padma Vibhushan in 2009.
Biography
Rocket engineer
Madhavan Nair studied engineering in Kerala and joined the space programme at Thumba in 1967. He specialised in rocket systems and became project director of the PSLV, which became one of the world’s most reliable launch vehicles.
Chairman
As ISRO chairman from 2003 to 2009 he oversaw a series of satellite launches and the start of work on human spaceflight.
Chandrayaan-1
In October 2008 ISRO launched Chandrayaan-1, India’s first mission to the Moon, whose instruments helped detect water molecules on the lunar surface.
Honours
He received the Padma Bhushan in 1998 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2009.
Timeline
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1943
Born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
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1967
Joins the space programme
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1998
Padma Bhushan
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2003
Becomes ISRO chairman
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2008
Chandrayaan-1 launched
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2009
Padma Vibhushan
Awards and honours
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Padma Bhushan
1998
-
Padma Vibhushan
2009
Did you know?
-
1
He led India’s first Moon mission.
-
2
He was project director of the PSLV rocket.
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3
Chandrayaan-1 helped find water on the Moon.
Connections
Related people
Frequently asked
Who is G. Madhavan Nair?
G. Madhavan Nair is a rocket scientist who chaired ISRO from 2003 to 2009, a period that included India’s first Moon mission, Chandrayaan-1. He earlier led development of the PSLV rocket and received the Padma Vibhushan in 2009.
How old is G. Madhavan Nair?
G. Madhavan Nair is 83 years old, born on 31 October 1943 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Where is G. Madhavan Nair from?
G. Madhavan Nair was born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
What is G. Madhavan Nair known for?
G. Madhavan Nair is best known for Chairing ISRO from 2003 to 2009; Chandrayaan-1; the PSLV programme.
What awards has G. Madhavan Nair received?
Notable honours include Padma Bhushan (1998), Padma Vibhushan (2009).
References
- G. Madhavan Nair — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- G. Madhavan Nair — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- G. Madhavan Nair — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 2 November 2026.
- G. Madhavan Nair (Q1484297) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “G. Madhavan Nair”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 2 November 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“G. Madhavan Nair.” TrackFame, last updated 3 November 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/g-madhavan-nair
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