Thiruvananthapuram – Scientists who were colleagues of Nambi Narayanan are wrong to spread the word that the development of cryogenic engine was delayed and the country suffered huge financial losses due to his arrest. In a press conference held in Thiruvananthapuram today, she stated that she had to meet the media because the film related to the life of Nambi Narayanan was saying wrong things.
ISRO started the process of developing its own cryogenic engine in the mid-nineties, scientists said. EVS Nambuthira was in charge. 12 volumes were developed by the group led by Namboothiri. At that time, Nambi Narayanan had nothing to do with cryogenics. Later, the development of cryogenic engine was started under the leadership of Gnana Gandhi, but Nambi was not present in that team either.
When the Cryogenic Propulsion System project started at LPSC in 1990, he appointed Nambi Narayanan as the project director, LPSC director Muthu Nayakam said. In 1993, an agreement was signed with Russia to transfer cryogenic engine technology. Gnan Gandhi was tasked with negotiating the terms of the agreement with Russia. The team headed by him went to Russia.
When former ISRO scientists held a press conference.
Russia withdrew from the agreement due to American pressure. The agreement was renewed in December 1993 after renegotiation with Russia. Instead of transferring the technology, it was decided to transfer the engine. In November 1994, Nambi tendered his retirement. He was kicked out of the cryogenic team after his arrest that same month. After leaving LPSC in 1994, Nambi Narayanan had nothing to do with cryogenic development. The claim that Vikas engine was developed by Nambi is also wrong.
It was developed by the Viking engine of France. In 1974, an agreement was signed with the French company. Nambi was the manager of the group that went to France. Nambi did the management work. Works on technique have been done by others. Muthu Nayakam said that Vikas engine is the success of a large team of scientists.
D. Sasikumar who was the director of cryogenic engine, EVS Namboothiri who was the project director of cryogenic engine, Sreedhardas (former associate director LPSE), Dr. Adimurthy (Former Associate Director VSSC), Dr. Majeed (Former Deputy Director VSSC), George Kosi (Former Project Director PSLV), Kailasanathan (Former Group Director Creo Stage) and Jayakumar (Former Director Quality Assurance). and attended the press conference.
English Summary: ISRO Scientists against Nambi Narayanan