iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the GSLV-F15 carrying the NVS-02 satellite at 6:23 AM (local time) on January 29 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, marking ISRO’s 100th launch from the country’s spaceport.
This launch was the 17th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th flight with an Indigenous Cryo stage. The GSLV-F15’s payload fairing has a metallic version with a diameter of 3.4 meters. The rocket with its indigenous Cryogenic stage will place the NVS-02 satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
Students were invited to witness the historic launch near the launchpad, with many expressing their excitement.
Earlier, Nilesh Desai, Director of the Space Applications Centre (SAC)/ISRO, explained that the launch would update India’s Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), increasing the satellite count from 4 to 5.
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as NavIC, will eventually have seven satellites in orbit. With this launch, India now has five operational satellites in space. Desai highlighted that the NVS-02 is the fifth in the series of operational NavIC satellites, replacing older satellites and improving navigation services.
NavIC offers two types of services: Standard Positioning Service (SPS), which provides position accuracy within 20 meters, and Restricted Service (RS). It offers accurate Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services to users in India and a region extending about 1,500 km beyond the Indian subcontinent.
(Photo courtesy: Photo courtesy: x.com/isro)