Mylswamy Annadurai
Moon Man of India | Padma Shri Awardee | Innovation| Leadership | Space Scientist
Popularly known as the Moon Man of India, Padmashri Awardee Dr Mylswamy Annadurai is a distinguished space scientist of international repute. Holding BE, ME and PhD in engineering, he has served in Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for 36 years and has contributed for 60 satellites made in India, notable among them being Chandrayaan-1 and Mangalyaan (Moon and Mars missions), as Project Director and Programme Director for the respective missions. During his tenure (2015–2018) as Director, ISRO Satellite Centre, Dr Annadurai led more than 3,000 scientists and engineers to build and launch 30 state-of-the-art satellites. He was also instrumental in operationalizing NAVIC constellation, Indian Regional Navigation System and redefining Aditya L1 mission.
Dr Annadurai had led many international forums and committees on space science and technology, viz., Chairman, Working Group of the Whole in United Nations Committee for Peaceful Use of Outer Space; Co-chair, Asia-Pacific Space Forum; Co-chair, Indo-German Joint Working Team for Space Co-operation; and Co-chair, Indo-French Joint Working Team for Space Co-operation. He has travelled to many countries.
Dr Annadurai served as Vice President, Tamilnadu State Council for Science & Technology and Chairman, National Design and Research Forum between 2019 and 2023. He also served as Chairman, DRDO’s Departmental Promotion Review Committee and National Committee for Indigenization.
At present, Annadurai is holding many honorary positions like Chairman, School Curriculum Design Committee, Government of Tamilnadu; Chairman, Honc Gas Pvt Ltd; Chairman for Aerospace Committee in Southern India Chamber of Commerce & Industries; Executive President, Senior Citizens Support Forum, Chennai; Chairman, Advisory Committee, Bangalore Bio Innovation Centre; Principal Advisor, Big Boom Solutions (BBBS) Pvt Ltd, Chennai; Senior Advisor, Xagrotor Pvt Ltd, Chennai; and Chief Scientist, Cosmo Chute, Ahmedabad. Annadurai is on the Board of Directors of SS Innovations International Inc., Florida; SS Innovations Pvt Ltd (R&D), HQ India, Gurugram; and Kaynes Tech Pvt Ltd, India. He is also honorary advisor for a few startups and charitable trusts, namely Edutech4Space, Dubai; Space Zone India, Chennai; Advisory Council, Trusity, UAE; and trustee member, American India Foundation–India Trust, New Delhi.
Dr Annadurai has been bestowed with the Padma Shree award in 2016 for S&T from the Government of India, Rajyotsava Prashasti award for Science in 2008 from the Government of Karnataka, a special award bearing Rs 2.5 million from the Government of Tamilnadu in 2023, and Engineering Excellence Award 2016 from IEI-IEEE (USA), along with more than 100 national and international awards and fellowships. Annadurai has authored more than 150 research papers and has written seven award-winning books in Tamil. He has attended more than 250 national and international conferences.
His achievements have been highlighted in science textbooks of Tamilnadu Board schools since 2009. Post superannuation, Dr Annadurai is mentoring and guiding engineering science students and young entrepreneurs in innovative projects of social relevance.