ISRO sets record with 100th mission, launches NVS-02 to enhance navigation services
by ShravyaThe launch took place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) on Sriharikota Island, Tirupati District, Andhra Pradesh, southern India, on January 29.
Visuals show that after the countdown, the GSLV soars into the sky, capturing the satellite’s progress. ISRO officials provide detailed updates on the satellite’s journey as it successfully reaches its designated orbit.
According to reports, this launch represented the first mission under the leadership of newly appointed ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan and was the organization’s first launch of the year. Marking 46 years since ISRO’s first experimental launch of the Satellite Launch Vehicle-3 (SLV-3), which tragically crashed into the Bay of Bengal, this achievement signifies a remarkable journey for the organization.
Exactly 19 minutes after liftoff, the NVS-02 satellite was successfully placed into orbit at an altitude of 322.93 km. The GSLV-F15 rocket, which carried the 2,250 kg satellite, travelled toward the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) above Earth, an orbit essential for communication and weather satellites.
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), India’s homegrown satellite-based navigation system, aims to provide accurate Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services across India and up to 1,500 kilometers beyond its borders. The NVS-02 satellite is a part of this system and will enhance its services, providing essential support for applications such as agriculture, aviation management, mobile location services, and more.
ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan highlighted that, to date, ISRO has launched 100 missions, deploying 548 satellites across six generations, with a combined weight of 120 tons. Of these, 433 satellites belong to foreign entities.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh congratulated ISRO for this landmark achievement, expressing pride in being associated with the Department of Space at such a historic moment. He also noted the remarkable progress made by ISRO, from its humble beginnings under Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan to the present-day achievements, especially after the space sector was “unlocked” by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This milestone also marks the first launch under the leadership of V. Narayanan, whose leadership is expected to continue shaping ISRO’s path forward in the global space arena.
*Its a Media Handout*