The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has initiated the countdown for its landmark 100th mission, set to launch the advanced navigation satellite NVS-02 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Scheduled for lift-off at 6:23 AM on January 29, the GSLV-F15 rocket will deploy the satellite as part of India’s indigenous Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, enhancing regional positioning accuracy for civilian and strategic applications.
Marking the first mission under newly appointed ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan, the 50.9-meter-tall GSLV-F15 features an indigenous cryogenic upper stage and follows the successful GSLV-F12 mission in May 2023, which launched the first second-gen NavIC satellite, NVS-01. The 27.5-hour countdown began at 2:53 AM on Tuesday, with the rocket poised to carry the 2,250-kg NVS-02 into orbit.
NVS-02 is designed to provide precise position, velocity, and timing data across the Indian subcontinent and up to 1,500 km beyond its borders. Equipped with navigation payloads in L1, L5, and S bands and a C-band ranging payload, the satellite will support critical services such as maritime navigation, precision agriculture, disaster management, and IoT applications.
This mission underscores ISRO’s commitment to expanding the NavIC constellation, which aims to deploy five second-generation satellites (NVS-01 to NVS-05) to ensure uninterrupted regional navigation services. With Sriharikota’s 100th launch, India reinforces its position as a global leader in cost-effective, innovative space technology.
