ISRO achieved a major milestone today with the successful launch of its 100th mission, the NVS-02 navigation satellite. The satellite was launched aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F15) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 6:23 am.
“LIFTOFF! The GSLV-F15 has successfully taken flight, carrying NVS-02 into its planned orbit,” ISRO confirmed on X (formerly Twitter).
This historic mission strengthens India’s position in space exploration and enhances its Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) by upgrading the constellation from four to five satellites.
Details of the GSLV-F15 Mission
The GSLV-F15 marks the 17th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle and the 11th flight with an indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage. It is the 8th operational flight of the GSLV equipped with this cryogenic stage, demonstrating India’s advancements in space technology.
ISRO scientist Desai explained the mission’s objective: “This launch will place the NVS-02 satellite into geostationary orbit at 36,000 kilometres, enhancing the accuracy of our navigation system.”
NavIC: India’s Own GPS
The NVS-02 satellite is the fifth in the NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) series, previously known as IRNSS. NavIC is India’s regional navigation satellite system designed to provide Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services to users across India and up to 1,500 km beyond its borders.
Former Indian Institute of Astrophysics scientist RC Kapoor highlighted the system’s importance, describing NavIC as “India’s own GPS.” He explained:
“This series consists of a constellation of seven satellites, which provide highly accurate positioning. The satellite is equipped with a rubidium atomic clock synchronized with ground-based clocks for unparalleled precision.”
Boost to India’s Space Capabilities
The NVS-02 satellite, built indigenously by ISRO, is expected to improve the navigation capabilities of the NavIC system significantly. W Selvamurthy, a prominent scientist, praised the achievement, saying:
“This launch strengthens our navigation system and demonstrates ISRO’s mastery over propulsion, guidance, material, and payload technologies.”
He added that ISRO is poised to take a leadership role in global space research by 2047, aligning with India’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047.’
Future Endeavors: ISRO-NASA Collaboration
Looking ahead, ISRO is gearing up for the ambitious NISAR project, a joint Earth observation satellite mission with NASA. Scientist RC Kapoor referred to it as ISRO’s “most expensive and largest project to date.” NISAR is set to further solidify India’s reputation as a major player in the global space race.
Key Features of NavIC
NavIC provides two types of services:
- Standard Positioning Service (SPS): Offers position accuracy better than 20 meters and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds over the service area.
- Restricted Service (RS): A highly secure service for authorized users.
With this launch, NavIC’s improved constellation will enhance positioning accuracy, benefiting sectors such as navigation, agriculture, disaster management, and defence.
The successful launch of the NVS-02 satellite underlines ISRO’s technological prowess and commitment to self-reliance. This historic mission not only enhances India’s regional navigation capabilities but also sets the stage for future space achievements, making it a proud moment for the nation.