Hyderabad: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its navigation satellite NVS-03 on Friday. The mission restored India’s independent regional navigation system, NavIC, to its minimum operational configuration of four satellites.
The 50-metre-tall Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F18) lifted off at 11.51 pm from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch followed a 24-hour countdown.
After approximately 18 minutes, the rocket successfully injected NVS-03 into its designated Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). All three stages, including the complex cryogenic upper stage, performed as expected.
ISRO Chairman V Narayanan confirmed the successful mission. He said the satellite would strengthen India’s Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services.
NavIC Strengthens India’s Independent Navigation Capabilities
NVS-03 is a second-generation navigation satellite designed to strengthen India’s NavIC system. It will complement three other operational navigation satellites, restoring the constellation to its minimum operational configuration.
NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation, is India’s independent satellite navigation system. It provides positioning and timing services across India and approximately 1,500 kilometres beyond its boundaries.
The system supports several civilian applications. These include real-time tracking of trains, vehicles and shipping vessels.
Narayanan said NavIC is also an important component of the government’s ‘One Nation, One Time’ initiative. The system supports India’s efforts to maintain independent and reliable timing services.
The ISRO chief said one of the indigenous atomic clocks had already been placed in orbit. NVS-03 carries indigenous and procured atomic clocks to support accurate navigation and timing services.
The satellite will transmit signals across the L1, L5 and S bands. These signals will strengthen India’s regional positioning and navigation infrastructure.
NVS-03 to Reach Its Final Orbital Position
The 2,232-kg satellite was injected into an orbit with a planned perigee of 170 kilometres and an apogee of 37,023 kilometres.
It will subsequently use its onboard propulsion system to reach its final geosynchronous orbital position at 32.5 degrees East.
ISRO adopted an additional safety measure for this mission. The satellite was launched with its pyrotechnic valves already open to ensure propulsion system reliability.
Narayanan said all launch vehicle systems performed as predicted. He also highlighted the short turnaround time of 56 days between successive GSLV missions.
The GSLV-F18 mission marked the rocket’s 20th flight. The launch vehicle successfully placed NVS-03 into its designated orbit.
ISRO Highlights Indigenous Space Technology
Narayanan congratulated the ISRO team, industrial partners and academic institutions for the successful mission. He also said nearly 80 per cent of the budget had been channelled into Indian industries.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh congratulated ISRO on the achievement.
He said the successful GSLV-F18/NVS-03 mission reflected India’s growing capabilities in space technology. He also highlighted the country’s commitment to strengthening indigenous navigation infrastructure.
Singh credited recent space sector reforms under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting India’s achievements. He described the launch as another proud moment for the country.
The ISRO chief also announced that the EOS-05 geo-imaging satellite, launched in September, was functioning successfully. The space agency is receiving outstanding data from the satellite.
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