ISRO Appoints CE20 Engine Architect N Jayan as Head of Critical Propulsion Centre

Eminent aerospace engineer N Jayan has been appointed as the new Director of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) , one of the key centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) , the space agency said in an official statement on Saturday.

The LPSC is responsible for the design, development and production of liquid and cryogenic propulsion systems used in ISRO’s launch vehicles and spacecraft. In simple terms, propulsion systems are the engines that provide the thrust needed for rockets to lift off and travel into space. Liquid propulsion engines use liquid fuels and oxidisers that are burned inside the engine to generate high-speed gases, which produce the force required to propel rockets. Cryogenic engines are a more advanced form of liquid propulsion technology that use extremely cold fuels such as liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to achieve higher efficiency.

Jayan has made significant contributions to India’s propulsion technology through several leadership roles at ISRO. Before taking charge as LPSC Director, he served as Associate Director of LPSC, Project Director of the Cryogenic Stage Project, and Project Director of the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) Project at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).

He is widely recognised for leading the indigenous development of the CE20 cryogenic engine , which powers the GSLV Mk III (LVM3) launch vehicle. The successful development of the engine marked a major milestone in India’s space programme by strengthening the country’s ability to conduct complex missions using home-grown technology.

Jayan holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, and a Master of Engineering degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, where he received a gold medal.

For his contributions to space science and technology, Jayan has received several honours, including the Astronautical Society of India Space Gold Medal and three ISRO Team Awards . In 2025, he was awarded the Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar , India’s highest science honour, by the President of India for his outstanding contribution to space research.