Episode 100 - ISRO's Origin, battling fake cases & future of India’s space mission with Nambi Narayanan

Nambi Narayanan is an Indian aerospace scientist who worked for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and headed the cryogenic engine development project at ISRO. Narayanan is also a recipient of Padma Bhushan, for his contribution to space technology. Nambi is also credited for the making of the VIKAS engine, which is a liquid fuelled rocket engine and continues to power most of the space launch missions, including the Chandrayaan-3. Narayanan has lived an extraordinary life and, from being regarded as one of the best brains in space technology to being labelled as a traitor and accused of espionage charges, he has lived an extraordinary life which has been depicted in the 2022 movie ‘Rocketry’, which is a biopic, on him. In this edition of ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Nambi talks about his association with the likes of Vikram Sarabhai, APJ Abdul Kalam and Professor Sathish Dhawan. He also talks about how the lack of funds derailed the Indian space program in the 1970s and 80s. He also draws a connection between fake cases against him and a geopolitical conspiracy to delay India’s aspirations in space. He also talks about his family and how it changed them during trial and tribulations and much more.