ISRO Achieves Milestone with 100th Launch, Successfully Deploys NVS-02 Satellite

GSLV-F15 marks the 17th GSLV mission, enhancing India’s navigation system NavIC with its fifth operational satellite.

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), January 29: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F15 rocket carrying the NVS-02 satellite at 6:23 AM from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. This launch marks ISRO’s 100th mission from the country’s primary spaceport.

GSLV-F15: Advancing Navigation

This mission represents the 17th flight of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th flight featuring the Indigenous Cryogenic Stage (IC stage). The NVS-02 satellite was placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and is part of ISRO’s efforts to enhance the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), known as NavIC.

The metallic payload fairing of the GSLV-F15 measured 3.4 meters in diameter, marking a significant achievement in India’s satellite technology and design.

Boosting NavIC’s Accuracy

The addition of the NVS-02 satellite increases the NavIC constellation from four to five operational satellites, further improving the accuracy of Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services for users in India and beyond, up to 1,500 km outside its borders. NavIC offers Standard Positioning Services (SPS) and Restricted Services (RS), providing position accuracy within 20 meters and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds.

Students Witness History

The milestone launch was made even more special as students from across India witnessed the event near the launchpad.

• Teerth from Gujarat expressed his excitement, stating, “This is ISRO’s 100th launch, and it’s amazing to see how we’re generating income by launching foreign satellites too. It’s a proud moment for India.”
• Avinash from Bihar, witnessing a launch for the first time, said, “It’s incredible. We’ve been trying for four years to witness this, and finally, we got the chance!”

ISRO’s Vision Forward

Speaking about the launch, Nilesh Desai, Director of ISRO’s Space Applications Centre (SAC), explained, “This mission replaces older satellites in the constellation, ensuring NavIC’s continued precision and reliability. With NVS-02, India now has five of the seven planned NavIC satellites operational in space.”

Desai highlighted that the satellite, once positioned at 36,000 kilometers, would significantly enhance the system’s positioning accuracy for both civilian and military use.

A Step Toward Space Independence

The NVS-02 satellite is part of India’s broader efforts to strengthen self-reliant navigation capabilities, reducing dependence on global systems like GPS. ISRO continues to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s technological and economic progress through such innovative missions.

The successful deployment of the NVS-02 satellite underscores India’s growing prominence in space exploration and its ability to deliver cutting-edge technology for global and regional benefits.

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