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Pawan Kumar Chandana Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 1, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth1991

Age31 Years (as of 2022)

BirthplaceHyderabad, Telangana

ProfessionAerospace scientist; Space entrepreneur

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

SpouseNirupama Chandana

Pawan Kumar Chandana Biography

Pawan Kumar Chandana is an Indian aerospace scientist and space entrepreneur from Hyderabad. A co‑founder, CEO and CTO of Skyroot Aerospace, he moved from

Early life and background

Pawan Kumar Chandana was born in 1991 and grew up in Hyderabad, Telangana. He studied at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, where he completed a B.Tech in mechanical engineering and an M.Tech in thermal science and engineering. Those academic choices set the foundation for his work in aerospace systems and propulsion.

Career

Chandana began his professional career with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), joining the Rocket Design Centre (VSSC) in Thiruvananthapuram in September 2012. During his tenure he worked as a system engineer on major launch vehicle projects, including involvement with the GSLV Mk‑II and the S200 booster for the GSLV Mk‑III. Before leaving ISRO in June 2018 he had been appointed Deputy Project Manager of the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

In June 2018 Chandana left ISRO to co‑found Skyroot Aerospace in Hyderabad alongside fellow former ISRO scientist Naga Bharath Daka and a group of private entrepreneurs and mentors. At Skyroot he serves as co‑founder, chief executive officer and chief technology officer, leading technical development and the company’s strategy to make small‑lift rockets rapidly manufacturable and affordable.

Under Chandana’s technical leadership Skyroot developed a series of propulsion systems and launch vehicles. Early milestones included the test firing of Raman‑1, a hypergolic upper‑stage engine, in July 2020 and the Kalam‑5 solid‑fuel motor in December 2020. The company progressed to larger motors and stages: by May 2022 Skyroot completed a full‑duration test of Kalam‑100, a 100 kN-class solid stage built from high‑strength carbon fibre with novel thermal protection and an ablative nozzle. Skyroot also tested Dhawan‑1, a 3D‑printed cryogenic engine using liquefied natural gas and liquid oxygen, which was developed for heavier‑lift systems.

Skyroot’s Vikram family of small launch vehicles was developed while Chandana led the technical programme. The company began work on the Vikram series in 2020 and partnered with other domestic space companies to integrate payload and transfer solutions. The first vehicle in the family, Vikram‑S, was launched successfully from Sriharikota on 18 November 2022, marking the first orbital launch attempt by an Indian private company. Vikram‑I, Vikram‑II and Vikram‑III were defined as progressively larger and quicker‑to‑deploy vehicles, with Vikram‑II planned around an advanced cryogenic Methalox engine.

Business growth and recognition

Skyroot raised institutional funding during Chandana’s time as CEO. In May 2021 the company closed an $11 million Series A round with participation from several Indian investors and entrepreneurs. Further capital was raised in early 2022 through a Series B round that included Sherpalo Ventures and other backers. The company also signed a memorandum with Dhruva Space and, importantly, entered an agreement with the Department of Space that enabled access to ISRO facilities for testing.

Chandana and his company collected multiple awards and honours. He individually received innovation awards from ISRO in 2016 for tools and vibration‑isolation solutions, and an aerospace engineering division prize in 2018 from The Institution of Engineers. Skyroot received national and state startup awards between 2020 and 2022, along with technology and innovation recognitions.

Public profile

Chandana has spoken publicly about his goals for Skyroot and for the Indian private space sector. He has emphasized reducing launch cost and increasing the speed of manufacture and deployment as central challenges to enabling broader space activity and a future space‑based economy. He has delivered TEDx talks on topics including space colonization and the role of obsession in achievement.

In 2022 Chandana was named among India Today’s top 100 Young Achievers and appeared on the magazine’s cover. Skyroot itself was listed among LinkedIn’s top emerging startups in India in 2021.

Personal life

Chandana is married to Nirupama Chandana; the wedding took place on 10 October 2019. He is an Indian national and lists Hyderabad as his hometown. Physical details reported include a height of approximately 175 cm and black hair and eyes.

Latest updates

Skyroot continued developing its Vikram family of rockets, test‑firing and qualifying various engines and stages through 2022 and conducting successful milestone launches and tests. The company’s roadmap includes vehicles designed for quick assembly and launch from a range of sites, and development of cryogenic Methalox propulsion for larger vehicles.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Pawan Kumar Chandana, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

Vikram‑S (first launch vehicle of Vikram series)

Skyroot Aerospace successfully launched Vikram‑S on 18 November 2022, the first rocket launched by a private company in India.

2022
Kalam‑100 full‑duration test

Completed full‑duration test‑firing of the Kalam‑100 solid rocket stage capable of about 100 kN peak vacuum thrust.

2022
Dhawan‑1 cryogenic engine test

Tested a 3D‑printed cryogenic engine using liquefied natural gas and liquid oxygen on 25 November 2021.

2021
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Career Highlights

  1. Co‑founder, CEO and CTO of Skyroot Aerospace
  2. Worked as a system engineer at ISRO’s Rocket Design Centre; Deputy Project Manager for SSLV
  3. Led development and test‑firing of multiple rocket engines including Raman‑1, Kalam series and Dhawan‑1
  4. Recipient of ISRO innovation awards and The Institution of Engineers prize; featured among India Today’s top 100 Young Achievers
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Pawan Kumar Chandana born?

Pawan Kumar Chandana was born on 1991.

What is Pawan Kumar Chandana known for?

Pawan Kumar Chandana is known for aerospace scientist; Space entrepreneur.

What is Pawan Kumar Chandana’s marital status?

Pawan Kumar Chandana's marital status is listed as Married.

Who is Pawan Kumar Chandana married to?

Pawan Kumar Chandana is publicly listed as married to Nirupama Chandana.