ISRO chief to head International Academy of Aeronautics

ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair is all set to become the first non-American to head the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA).

The formal announcement was made today by IAA secretary general JM Contant during an international conference on low cost planetary mission here.

"It's a great honour. All these years Americans chaired the post, first time a non-American, that too an Indian, is elected is a matter of great honour," Nair said after the announcement.

Nair will formally take over the post during the International Astronautical Congress scheduled to be held in Korea this October.

Nair, whose term is for two years, was elected by 94 member countries through postal ballot.

IAA was founded in Sweden's capital Stockholm on August 16, 1960.