Bengaluru: Senior scientist Dr M Annadurai has taken over as the new Director of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Satellite Centre (ISAC) here.

Annadurai succeeds S K Shivakumar, who superannuated on March 31, Indian Space Research Organisation said.

Annadurai, who took charge as ISAC Director on April 1, made significant contribution in India's Mars and Moon missions.

He joined ISRO in 1982 and began his career at ISAC as the team leader to design and develop Software Satellite Simulator.

During the period 1992-2005, he was the lead member of ISRO's satellite mission team and managed eight INSAT Missions as Mission Director and brought about the efficient ground automation for satellite operations.

As Project Director, Annadurai made the most crucial contribution to the realisation of India's first Lunar Mission, Chandrayaan-1, which won many appreciations and awards including the prestigious Space Pioneer Award, 2009, ISRO said in a release.

In 2011, Annadurai became Programme Director of Indian Remote Sensing Satellites and Small Satellite Systems and realised five satellite projects.

Among the notable awards he has received are Team Excellence Award from ISRO for his Contribution to Indian Space Programme (2007), National Aeronautical Award-2008 from Aeronautical Society of India and Rajyotsava Award for Science (2008) from Government of Karnataka, besides Doctor of Science conferred by five Universities.

Annadurai has 75 papers to his credit and authored three books.

Annadurai also made major contribution in the successful launch of India's Mars Orbiter Mission in record time.

(With PTI Inputs)