ISRO Successfully Launches GSLV-F15 With NVS-02 From Sriharikota, Marks 100th Mission

Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched their Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F15) carrying the NVS-02 at 6:23 am on Wednesday at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. This marks the 100th launch from the national spaceport for ISRO.

GSLV-F15 carrying the NVS-02 navigation satellite lifted off from the second pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Around 19 minutes later, the rocket placed NVS-02 in a 322.93km geosynchronous transfer orbit.

In his first mission as the Indian space agency chief, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan told India Today after the launch that “the reward for hard work is more work and we have got a busy year ahead with many missions lined up in the coming months.”

He also stated that the ISRO has launched six generations of rockets placing 548 Satellites weighing a total of 120 tonnes including 23 tonnes of 433 foreign satellites. Several significant launches like three Chandrayaan missions, the Mars Orbiter Mission, ADITA-L1, and 104 satellites in a mission Navigation and Earth Observation satellite.

What NVS-02 Satellite provides?

NVS-02 is the second satellite in the NVS series and part of India’s Navigation with the Indian Constellation (NacIC).

NVS-01, the first satellite of the second-generation series, was launched aboard GSLV-F12 on May 29, 2023. Notably, it carried an indigenous atomic clock for the first time.

On the other hand, NVS-02, the second satellite in the NVS series, is equipped with a navigation payload operating in the L1, L5, and S bands, along with a ranging payload in the C-band, similar to NVS-01. It is set to be positioned at 111.75ºE, replacing IRNSS-1E. NVS-02 incorporates both indigenous and externally sourced atomic clocks to ensure precise time estimation.

In an X post, Union Minister Jitendra Singh Congratulated the ISRO team and said, “Congratulations ISRO for achieving the landmark milestone of 100thLaunch from #Sriharikota. It’s a privilege to be associated with the Department of Space at the historic moment of this record feat.”

Former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also praised ISRO’s superior space technology and expressed the milestone as evidence of India’s increasing leadership in space exploration and wished ISRO continued success in all its future endeavours.