Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), situated at Thiruvananthapuram is a Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. IIST functions as an autonomous body under the Department of Space, Government of India. The idea of such an institute was mooted keeping in mind the need for high quality manpower for the Indian Space Research Organization, one of world’s leading scientific organizations engaged in space research and space applications. The institute is the first of its kind in the country, to offer high quality education at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral levels on areas with special focus to space sciences, space technology and space applications. IIST was formally inaugurated on 14 September 2007 by Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, the then Chairman, ISRO and was temporarily housed in the premises of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, very close from where ISRO built and launched its first rocket. Both the founding fathers of the institute, Dr G Madhavan Nair and Dr B.N. Suresh, the latter being the first Director of IIST, played a very important role in the formation of the institute, facilitating its establishment and contributing to its vision. Dr B.N. Suresh piloted the institute from the conception of the idea to its realization in a permanent campus near Thiruvananthapuram in 2010.

The institute had the enviable reputation among all educational institutions since it had Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the renowned technocrat and former President of India as its very first Chancellor. Prof U.R.Rao, the eminent space scientist and one of the former Chairman, ISRO guided the institute as its second Chancellor with distinction for two years from 2015 to 2017. Dr B.N. Suresh, the founder Director of IIST has assumed charge as the institute’s third Chancellor since November 2017. 

The institute has had excellent steering by an array of stalwarts and visionaries. The journey began under the able leadership of Dr. B N Suresh, who was followed by Dr. K Dasgupta who served as IIST director from 2010 - 2015, and Dr. V K Dadhwal during 2016 - 2021. IIST received exceptional consideration and support from Sri. S Somanath, who served as IIST Director between July 2021 and Jan 2022, in addition to his responsibilities as Director, VSSC. Shri Somanath has taken over as Chairman, ISRO, and Member Secretary of Space Commission from Dr. K. Sivan in Jan 2022. Dr. Dadhwal and Shri Somanath were instrumental in initiating start-ups at IIST. Dr. D. Sam Dayala Dev who is a distinguished scientist and Director of ISRO Inertial Systems Unit was Director, IIST between Jan-Sept 2022. Dr. Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, VSSC, has taken charge since Sept 2022. Dr Unnikrishnan Nair has played a pivotal role in the Space Capsule Recovery Experiment (SRE), and also in the Human Spaceflight Programme since its inception in 2004. He was the founding Director of the Human Space Flight Centre, HSFC, and has led the Gaganyaan Project and established the Astronaut Training Centre at Bangalore in HSFC at Bangalore. IIST is proudly moving forward under his guidance.