ISRO will launch the NVS-03 navigation satellite on October 30 from Sriharikota. The space agency said the mission uses a GSLV rocket to carry the satellite into orbit. This new system provides better navigation services for India and nearby regions by using an indigenous atomic clock and extra signal bands.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its much-awaited navigation satellite NVS-03 aboard a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket on October 30, the space agency said on Wednesday.
GSLV-F18/NVS-03 Mission
NVS-03 is the third satellite in the next-generation navigation satellite system envisaged for providing continuity of navigation services for the IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) series.
The satellite carries an indigenous atomic clock, along with the procured atomic clocks. It also includes band L1 in addition to existing L5/S signals (which provides information including location) with coverage over the Indian land mass and a region extending 1500 km around the Indian geopolitical boundary.
The GSLV-F18/NVS-03 Mission is scheduled for launch on October 30, 2026, at 11:51 pm from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
According to ISRO, five second-generation NavIC satellites--NVS-01/02/03/04/05 are envisaged to augment the NavIC base layer constellation with enhanced features for ensuring continuity of services. The NVS series of satellites incorporates L1 band signals additionally to widen the services.
NVS-01, the first of the second-generation satellites, was launched onboard GSLV-F12 on May 29, 2023. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock was flown in NVS-01.
Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is India's independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to users in India as well as the region extending about 1500 km beyond the Indian landmass, which is its primary service area.
NavIC is providing two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS), ISRO has said.
ISRO GSLV-F17 mission successful
Earlier in September, ISRO successfully deployed the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite into orbit from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, marking another major milestone in India's space programme.
The launch took place from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR. The launch was carried out on a GSLV-F17 rocket, which is the 19th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), as it carried EOS-05 towards a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO).
EOS-05 is a state-of-the-art Earth observation spacecraft and is significant for being India's first imaging satellite intended for placement in a geosynchronous orbit. From such an orbit, the satellite is designed to provide repeated observations of large areas of the Earth and provide information related to weather, agricultural updates, among others.