M Annadurai takes over as Director of ISRO Satellite Centre

"He took over as Director, ISAC from Dr S K Shivakumar, who superannuated on Mar 31,"  ISRO said in a statement on Monday.

Born on July 2, 1958,  Annadurai graduated in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, obtained his Post Graduate degree in Applied Electronics from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore and   Doctoral degree from Anna  University, Coimbatore.

Joining ISRO in 1982,  Annadurai began his career at ISAC as the team leader to design and develop Software Satellite Simulator. During the period 1992 -2005, Dr Annadurai was the lead member of ISRO’s satellite
mission team and managed eight INSAT Missions as the Mission Director and brought about the efficient ground automation for satellite operations.

As Project Director, Annadurai made the most crucial contribution to the realisation of India’s first Lunar Mission, Chandrayaan-1, which won many appreciations and awards including the prestigious Space Pioneer Award,
2009. In 2011, Annadurai became the Programme Director of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites (IRS) and Small Satellite Systems (SSS) and realised five satellite projects. 

His other major contribution is the realisation of the successful Mars Orbiter Mission in record time.  

Annadurai also supervised two student satellite projects.