ISRO’s 100th Launch

January 25, 2025

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to mark milestone with its 100th launch. Scheduled for January 29, 2025, the GSLV-F15 mission will deploy the NVS-02 satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This mission enhances India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), an independent regional navigation satellite system.

NavIC Overview

NavIC is India’s regional navigation system.
It provides Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services.
The primary service area extends 1,500 km beyond India.
NavIC consists of two service types – Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS).
NavIC signals are designed to provide a position accuracy of better than 20 meters and a timing accuracy of better than 50 nanoseconds.
SPS signals work well with other global navigation satellite systems like GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou.

Significance of GSLV-F15

The GSLV-F15 is crucial for deploying the NVS-02 satellite.
This satellite is part of the second generation of NavIC satellites.
It is designed to replace older satellites in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
The GSLV-F15 mission will last approximately 19 minutes.

NVS-02 Satellite Features

NVS-02 has a lift-off mass of 2,250 kg.
It is equipped with advanced atomic clocks for precise timing.
The satellite operates on the standard I-2K bus platform.
It will be positioned at 111.75ºE, replacing IRNSS-1E.
The NVS-02 includes navigation payloads in multiple frequency bands.

Advancements in Navigation Technology

The NVS series incorporates L1 band signals. This is as it aligns with frequencies used by the US Global Positioning System (GPS). Such compatibility is expected to enhance the use of NavIC in smaller devices like fitness trackers.

Challenges and Improvements

The initial IRNSS satellites faced issues, including malfunctioning atomic clocks. These challenges necessitated replacements before the end of their operational life. The new generation of satellites aims to address these issues. They are designed for a longer lifespan of 12 years.

Recent Developments in Navigation Services

Despite criticisms regarding underutilisation of NavIC services, recent advancements have been made. The development of user receivers has progressed since 2017. New mobile devices are now capable of receiving NavIC signals, expanding its practical applications.

Future of Indian Navigation

The NVS series will consist of five satellites. Each satellite aims to enhance the accuracy and reliability of NavIC services. The successful launch of NVS-02 will pave the way for further advancements in India’s navigation capabilities.

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