New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is poised to achieve a monumental milestone with the launch of its 100th mission in January 2025. Following the successful 99th mission of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C60), ISRO Chairman S. Somanath has confirmed that the upcoming mission will be aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk-II.
The landmark 100th mission, titled GSLV-F15/NVS-02, will further expand India’s indigenous satellite navigation system, NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation). NavIC is India’s regional alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS), offering applications for both civilian and military use.
This mission will mark the 17th flight of the GSLV and its 11th operational mission using India’s indigenous cryogenic stage.
Key Objectives of the GSLV-F15/NVS-02 Mission
The mission will carry the IRNSS-1K satellite, part of the second-generation NavIC series. Its objectives include:
Enhancing precision navigation for military and strategic applications.
Supporting terrestrial, aerial, and maritime navigation.
Facilitating precision agriculture, geodetic surveying, and fleet management.
Enabling location-based services, emergency response, and IoT-based applications.
Providing timing services for power grids, financial institutions, and government operations.
NVS-02: A Technological Marvel
The NVS-02 satellite, a successor to NVS-01, features dual payloads:
Navigation Payload: Transmits signals in L1, L5, and S bands, equipped with a rubidium atomic clock for exceptional time accuracy, ensuring seamless global service.
Ranging Payload: Includes a transponder to transmit time-stamped signals for precise location and speed measurements.
Enhanced encryption in the second-generation satellites ensures secure communication for both civilian and military users.
NavIC is part of India’s vision to develop a self-reliant satellite navigation system, joining global players like the USA’s GPS, Russia’s GLONASS, Europe’s Galileo, and China’s BeiDou. Although currently regional, NavIC aims to achieve global coverage in the future.
The previous GSLV mission, GSLV-F14/INSAT-3DS, launched in February 2024, successfully placed its payload into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The last mission under NavIC, GSLV-F12/NVS-01, was conducted in May 2023, paving the way for NVS-02’s advancements.
With its 100th mission, ISRO continues to showcase India’s growing capabilities in space exploration and technology. As the agency targets more ambitious milestones, this landmark launch reinforces its commitment to innovation and global leadership in space science.