The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked a historic milestone on Wednesday morning with the successful launch of its 100th GSLV rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The GSLV-F15 lifted off at 6:23 a.m., carrying the NVS-02 navigation satellite into space, further strengthening India’s indigenous navigation system, NavIC.
The launch was a significant achievement for ISRO, as it was the 17th mission of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th successful mission using an indigenous cryogenic stage. This mission also marked the eighth operational flight of the GSLV featuring the cryogenic stage, underscoring the advancements India has made in space technology.
ISRO celebrated the event with a post on social media, stating, “LIFTOFF! The GSLV-F15 has successfully taken flight, carrying NVS-02 into its planned orbit. Stay tuned for more mission updates!”
The NVS-02 satellite is part of India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, which provides accurate Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services. Designed to enhance navigation services across India and regions extending 1,500 km beyond its borders, the new satellite introduces advanced features, including support for the L1 frequency band, which improves reliability.
According to ISRO, the satellite has a lift-off mass of 2,250 kg and power-handling capability of around 3 kW. It carries navigation payloads operating in the L1, L5, and S bands, as well as a ranging payload in the C-band. Positioned at 111.75 degrees east, it replaces the IRNSS-1E satellite in the NavIC constellation.
NavIC provides two types of services—Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for civilian use, offering position accuracy of better than 20 meters, and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic applications.
With this successful launch, India continues to strengthen its independent navigation system, reducing reliance on foreign GPS services. The achievement highlights ISRO’s growing capabilities and its commitment to advancing space technology.
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