Isro begins countdown for its 100th mission: GSLV-F15 launch of NVS-02 navigation satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) began its 27-hour countdown at 2.53am on Tuesday for the grand launch of its 100th mission, a navigation satellite onboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). The lift-off is scheduled for 6.23 am on January 29 from the second launch pad at Sriharikota, according to sources from the space agency.

This mission is set to mark a significant milestone as it will be the first under the leadership of Isro chairman V Narayanan, who assumed office on January 13. The GSLV, in its 17th flight, will carry the navigation satellite NVS-02, which is part of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) programme.

NavIC programme

The NavIC, is aimed to provide precise positioning, velocity, and timing services, extending across the Indian subcontinent and other regions up to 1,500 km beyond.

The NVS-02 satellite , developed by the U R Satellite Centre, is the second in the NavIC second-generation series and weighs around 2,250 kg. It features navigation payloads in L1, L5, and S bands, along with a C-band ranging payload, enhancing its capabilities compared to its predecessor, NVS-01, launched in May 2023.

The GSLV-F15 rocket stands 50.9 metres tall and follows the successful GSLV-F12 mission. The NavIC constellation will eventually comprise five second-generation satellites—NVS-01 to NVS-05—aimed at strengthening India's navigation infrastructure with advanced features and ensuring continuity of services.

Isro outlined the satellite's wide range of applications, including terrestrial, aerial, and maritime navigation, precision agriculture, fleet management, mobile-based location services, satellite orbit determination, IoT-based solutions, emergency response systems, and timing services.