S Somanath (ISRO Chairman): As the ISRO Chairman, S Somanath played a pivotal role in overseeing India's ambitious Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3. His leadership extended beyond Chandrayaan-3, encompassing crucial missions like Gaganyaan and Aditya-L1. With a wealth of experience, he guided ISRO's endeavors in space exploration. His previous roles include directing the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, both integral in developing rocket technologies for ISRO.
P Veeramuthuvel (Project Director, Chandrayaan-3): P Veeramuthuvel, the Project Director of Chandrayaan-3, brought his expertise as a PhD holder from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. With previous roles at the Space Infrastructure Programme Office, he assumed leadership after Vanitha, who directed Chandrayaan-2.
S Mohana Kumar (Mission Director, Chandrayaan-3): S Mohana Kumar, a senior scientist from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, took on the role of Mission Director for Chandrayaan-3. His experience included directing the successful commercial launch of the One Web India 2 satellites during the LVM3-M3 mission.
S Unnikrishnan Nair (Director, VSSC): S Unnikrishnan Nair served as the Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) located in Thumba, Kerala. His leadership was instrumental in overseeing critical aspects of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, particularly the development of the GSLV Mark-III launch vehicle.
M Sankaran (Director, URSC): M Sankaran led as the Director of the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), responsible for designing and constructing a wide array of satellites catering to India's communication, navigation, remote sensing, weather forecasting, and planetary exploration needs.
A Rajarajan (LAB Chief and Director, SDSC SHAR): A Rajarajan, the Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) chief and director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota, played a significant role by overseeing the production and launch complex infrastructure to meet ISRO's increased demand for launches.
Kalpana K, Deputy Project Director, Chandrayaan-3: Kalpana K showcased exceptional leadership qualities as the head of the Chandrayaan-3 team. Her unwavering determination remained steadfast, even amid the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. With a robust engineering background, she has played a crucial role in propelling India's achievements in satellite missions. Notably, her pivotal contributions were integral to the successful outcomes of both the Chandrayaan-2 and Mangalyaan missions.
Vanitha, Deputy Director at URSC, Chandrayaan-3: Vanitha, a highly accomplished electronics system engineer, demonstrated remarkable leadership as a key member of the Chandrayaan-3 team. Her resolute dedication remained unwavering, even in the face of the obstacles posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Recognized as a mastermind behind India's satellite initiatives, she has played instrumental roles within the Chandrayaan-2 and Mangalyaan missions.
These dedicated and talented individuals, through their collective efforts and leadership, contributed to the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, showcasing India's prowess in space exploration.
