Katuru Narayana is an Indian rocket scientist and a former director of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, one of the two launch centres of the Indian Space Research Organisation. He held the post from 1999 to 2005 after which he served as the co-chairman of the Mission Readiness Review Committee for two Indian space programs, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle. He is a recipient of an honorary doctorate from Sri Venkateswara University. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2002, for his contributions to science and engineering.