Dr S Pandian assumed charge as Director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota on August 2018. He graduated from Madras Institute of Technology in 1982 (B. Tech in Aeronautical Engineering) and did his Master degree in Aerospace Engineering at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore in 1984.He got his PhD from IIT Guwahati. He joined ISRO - Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in 1984. Dr S. Pandian, Distinguished Scientist, Director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota superannuated on 30th June 2019 and he was Associate Director (Projects) at VSSC and Director, ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC). He was Professor Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor at VSSC, ISRO. Currently he is Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Technology Madras
At VSSC, he was responsible for the aerodynamic design and characterization of launch vehicles viz., the ASLV, PSLV, GSLV, GSLV MK III, Sounding Rockets, Air Breathing Vehicle, Re-entry modules and Re-usable Launch Vehicle. He was also responsible for the mission design, aero-thermal design and qualification of all launch vehicles of ISRO.
As the Project Director of Hypersonic Wind Tunnel Project, he has designed, built and commissioned the State of the art one metre Hypersonic Wind Tunnel and one-meter combustion Driver Shock Tunnel. The above Hypersonic Wind Tunnel is only third of its kind in the world. He has made significant contributions to PSLV C11 - Chandrayaan and PSLV C25-Mars mission (Mangalyaan) thermal and trajectory design, GSLV Mk-II and GSLV Mk-III trajectory design. He has also contributed for various interplanetary missions, viz., to Venus, Mercury, Asteroids and Adithya (L1 point-SUN-EARTH).
Under his leadership at ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), 20 liquid engines integrated& tested and 10 PSLV/GSLV/GSLV- Mk III liquid propellant stages were realized.
Under his leadership as Director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, PSLV-C42, C43, C44, C45, C46, GSLV Mk II F11 and GSLV Mk III – D2 were integrated and launched successfully. For CHANDRAYAAN 2 mission, the launch vehicle GSLV MKIII M1 solid motorsrealised, Earth storable propellant and cryo propellant realized. All stages were assembled and integrated in Second Launch Pad.Chandrayaan 2 spacecraft was prepared and filled the propellant and made ready for Launch. He was the Chairman of Launch Authorization Board for all launch vehicles. He is responsible for the realization of 10,000 capacity viewing gallery in record time.