ISRO’S 100TH LAUNCH: GSLV-F15 AND NVS-02 SATELLITE

PRELIMS BITS

Milestone Launch: ISRO is set to mark its 100th launch on January 29, 2025, with the GSLV-F15 mission, which will deploy the NVS-02 satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. This mission strengthens India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), an independent regional navigation system.

NavIC Overview:

• Regional Navigation System: Provides Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services.
• Coverage: Extends 1,500 km beyond India, offering services in both SPS (Standard Positioning Service) and RS (Restricted Service).
• Accuracy: Position accuracy of better than 20 meters, and timing accuracy of better than 50 nanoseconds.
• Compatibility: SPS signals work with other global systems like GPS, Glonass, Galileo, and BeiDou.

GSLV-F15 Mission:

• The GSLV-F15 is designed to deploy the NVS-02 satellite, part of the second generation of NavIC satellites.
• The mission will last about 19 minutes, and the satellite will replace the older IRNSS-1E satellite.

NVS-02 Satellite Features:

• Mass: 2,250 kg.
• Precision: Equipped with advanced atomic clocks for accurate timing.
• Platform: Operates on the I-2K bus and will be positioned at 111.75ºE.
• Payload: Includes navigation payloads in multiple frequency bands, enhancing global compatibility.

Technological Advancements:

• L1 Band Signals: Compatible with GPS, enabling NavIC use in smaller devices like fitness trackers.
• Extended Lifespan: The NVS series satellites are designed for 12 years, addressing issues faced by earlier IRNSS satellites.

Recent Developments:

• NavIC’s underutilisation has been addressed by improving user receivers, with new mobile devices capable of receiving NavIC signals since 2017.

Future Outlook:

The NVS series, consisting of five satellites, will improve NavIC’s accuracy and reliability. The successful launch of NVS-02 will further India’s navigation capabilities and its integration into global systems.