Shri S Ramakrishnan, Distinguished Scientist of ISRO and hitherto Director (Projects), Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, assumed the office of Director, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Thiruvananthapuram on May 31, 2010. He took over the charge from Shri. MKG Nair, the outgoing Director.

Shri Ramakrishnan has made significant contribution to the launch vehicle technology in the country starting from the very first SLV-3 project. After obtaining M. Tech degree from IIT, Chennai, Shri Ramakrishnan joined VSSC in 1972. His first assignment was in SLV-3 Project, wherein he was responsible for the design and development of Reaction Control Systems. He played a key role in the development of PSLV and was responsible for development of liquid propulsion stages and their interfacing with vehicle and launch operations.

Under his leadership as Project Director, PSLV Continuation programme (PSLV-C1 to C4), operationalisation of PSLV and enhancing the payload capability from 900 kg to 1500 kg was accomplished. As Project Director, GSLV Mark III, Shri Ramakrishnan steered the Project during the crucial phase of design, engineering and realisation of first-off hardware for development test.

As Director (Projects) at VSSC and Chairman, Project Management Council, he provided technical guidance and programmatic direction to ISRO Launch Vehicle Projects as well as new developmental activities.

Shri Ramakrishnan played a lead role in the formulation of Indian Human Spaceflight (HSP) project and completion of system concept reviews.

Shri Ramakrishnan is the recipient of many prestigious awards including ISRO Performance Excellence Award during 2006 in recognition of his contribution to Indian Space Programme in the area of satellite launch vehicles, Astronautical Society of India award for contributions to Rockets and Related Technologies development and Dr. Biren Roy award from Aeronautical Society of India in recognition of his role in the operationalisation of PSLV launches and entering into commercial launch services. Government of India conferred Shri Ramakrishnan with Padmashree during 2003.