Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) at Thiruvananthapuram is a Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. It functions as an autonomous body under the Department of Space, Government of India.

It is the first university in Asia to be solely dedicated to the study and research of Outer space. It was inaugurated on 14 September 2007 and was set up by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under the Department of Space, Government of India.

It has been ranked 8th among all universities of India by the NIRF adopted by HRD ministry, India in April 2016.

IIST has collaborations with Universities Space Research Association and California Institute of Technology.

The Satish Dhawan fellowship at California Institute of Technology was announced by Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman, ISRO on June 3, 2013.

The fellowship provides an opportunity every year to one meritorious graduating student from the Aerospace Department of IIST to be sponsored by the Department of Space, Government of India to pursue Masters in Aerospace Engineering at the California Institute of Technology. Preliminary talks are on for an MoU with EADS and École Polytechnique.

Its Mission is to:

Create a unique learning environment enriched by the challenges of the Space Programme.
Nurture the spirit of innovation and creativity.
Establish Centres of Excellence in slot areas.
Provide decent and value based education.
Promote activities to address societal needs.
Network with national and international institutions of repute

Board of Management

Members Designation

Dr. K S Dasgupta Director, IIST Chairman
Shri. A Vijay Anand Additional Secretary, Department of Space Member
Dr. Y V N Krishnamurthy Scientific Secretary, Department of Space Member
Dr. Partha Pratim Chakrabarti Director, IIT Kharagpur Member
Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi Director, IIT Madras Member
Dr. Ajayaghosh Director, NIIST Trivandrum Member
To be decided Nominee of DOS in consultation with UGC Member
Dr. A Chandrasekar Dean (Academic), IIST Member
Dr. Raju K George Dean (R & D), IIST Member
Dr. K Kurien Issac Sr. Professor, IIST Member
Dr. Kuruvilla Joseph Sr. Professor, IIST Member
Dr. A Chandrasekar Registrar, IIST Secretary