S. Somanath

S. Somanath is an Indian aerospace engineer and rocket technologist. He is currently the Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram. He also served as the Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Thiruvananthapuram. Somanath is known for his contributions to launch vehicle design, particularly in the areas of launch vehicle systems engineering, structural design, structural dynamics, and pyrotechnics.
He is focussed for upgradation of launch vehicles and GSAT –MKII (F09) for communication satellites, GSAT-6A and PSLV-C41 for Remote sensing satellites.
Education and career.
Somanath completed his Pre Degree program at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam. Somanath received his graduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Quilon, Kerala University and Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore with specialization in Dynamics and Control.
After his graduation, Somanath joined Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation in 1985. He was associated with Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) Project during its initial phase. He became the Associate Director (Projects) of VSSC and also the Project Director of GSLV Mk-III launch vehicle in 2010. He was also the Deputy Director of Propulsion and Space Ordinance Entity till November 2014.
In June 2015, he took over as Director of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) at Valiamala, Thiruvananthapuram and served there until January 2018. Somanath took over as Director of VSSC from K. Sivan who became Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation.