After successive launch failures, the grapevine is that the ISRO Chairman V Narayanan whose term ends next year may may be retired early.

The Director of the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) J. Asir Packiaraj , Director of ISRO's Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC) M. Mohan, and Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) A. Rajarajan , three important centres of rocket programme, are rumoured to be in the race for the top post.

However, insiders point out that the best possible candidate for present ISRO Chairman Narayanan's immediate replacement is N M Desai, Present Director of Space Applications Centre.