The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked a historic achievement on Wednesday with the successful deployment of the NVS-02 navigation satellite using the GSLV-F15 rocket. The launch took place at 6:23 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota and was ISRO’s 100th mission, highlighting the agency’s continued advancements in space technology. The satellite was precisely placed into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), further strengthening India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system. Notably, this was the first major launch overseen by ISRO Chairman V Narayanan since he took office on January 16, 2025.
Mission Details and NavIC Expansion
ISRO confirmed the successful launch in a post on X (formerly Twitter), noting that the 50.9-meter GSLV-F15 rocket lifted off smoothly after a 27.30-hour countdown. This mission featured an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, a key technological milestone for India’s space program. The NVS-02 satellite is the second in the second-generation NavIC series, designed to enhance India’s positioning, navigation, and timing services, covering both domestic regions and a 1,500 km range beyond national borders. The first satellite in this series, NVS-01, was launched in May 2023, paving the way for more robust and precise navigation capabilities.
Developed at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, NVS-02 weighs approximately 2,250 kg and carries advanced payloads operating in the L1, L5, and S bands. It is equipped with a tri-band antenna and an indigenous Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard, a critical technology that significantly improves the accuracy of navigation signals. This marks a major step in India’s efforts to reduce dependency on foreign positioning systems and further develop its own satellite-based navigation infrastructure.
With the successful deployment of NVS-02, ISRO continues to expand the capabilities of NavIC, ensuring better coverage and precision for civilian and military applications. This mission underscores India’s growing expertise in satellite navigation technology and reinforces its position as a key player in the global space industry. As ISRO gears up for future launches, including ambitious interplanetary missions, this achievement serves as another milestone in India’s journey toward space self-reliance.
