Sriharikota, (Andhra Pradesh) Jan 29: On Wednesday, ISRO marked a significant milestone by successfully launching its 100th mission, an advanced navigation satellite that will support terrestrial, aerial, and maritime navigation, as well as precision agriculture.
This early morning launch was the first conducted under the leadership of ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, who took office on January 16, and it also represented the agency’s inaugural endeavor of 2025. Prior to this, ISRO successfully executed a space docking experiment on December 30, 2024, which was its 99th mission.
Narayanan expressed his delight in announcing ISRO’s successful first mission of 2025.
He confirmed that the satellite was “precisely injected into the required Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO),” emphasizing the significance of this 100th launch.
“All vehicle systems are functioning normally,” added Narayanan.
As the 27.30-hour countdown came to an end, the 50.9-meter tall Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket, equipped with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, lifted off gracefully at 6:23 am from the second launch pad, leaving a trail of thick fumes in its wake.
After approximately 19 minutes of traveling through dark, cloudy skies, the rocket successfully deployed its payload, the NVS-02 navigation satellite, into the desired GTO.
The NVS-02 satellite is the second in the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) series, designed to deliver accurate positioning, velocity, and timing services to users across the Indian subcontinent and regions up to 1,500 km beyond.
The GSLV-F15 follows the successful GSLV-F12 mission, which launched NVS-01, the first of the new generation of navigation satellites, on May 29, 2023.
Key functions of the NVS-02 satellite encompass terrestrial, aerial, and maritime navigation, precision agriculture, fleet management, location-based services on mobile devices, satellite orbit determination, as well as Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications and timing services, according to ISRO.
NavIC includes five second-generation satellites—NVS-01 through NVS-05—which are intended to enhance the base layer constellation of NavIC, ensuring continuous service.
The NVS-02 satellite, designed and developed by the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, weighs approximately 2,250 kg. It features navigation payloads operating in the L1, L5, and S bands and employs a tri-band antenna.
Its navigation payload is powered by a Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard (RAFS), an atomic clock that serves as a stable frequency reference.
Additionally, the satellite’s ranging payload includes a CxC transponder, facilitating two-way CDMA ranging for precise orbit determination, as per ISRO’s report.
Reflecting on ISRO’s journey, Narayanan recalled how the space mission was nurtured under the visionary leadership of Vikram Sarabhai.
Since its inception, ISRO has developed six generations of launch vehicles, dating back to the first under Satish Dhawan, with the late APJ Abdul Kalam serving as the project director. The first of these, SLV-3 E1, launched the Rohini Technology payload on August 10, 1979.
With these 100 launches, ISRO has successfully deployed 548 satellites into orbit, including those for international clients, Narayanan stated.
During this time, numerous milestone launches have taken place, encompassing three Chandrayaan missions, as well as missions to Mars and the Sun, noted the Secretary of the Department of Space. (Agencies)
