ISRO successfully completes GSLV NVS-1 mission to launch new navigational satellite

India's second-generation navigation satellite series was successfully launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), situated around 130 km from Chennai, on Monday (May 29, 2023).

With the GSLV-F12/NVS-O1 Mission accomplished, the NVS-O1 satellite was skillfully placed into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit following a 19-minute flight. ISRO shared the exciting news on Twitter, stating that subsequent orbital maneuvers will propel NVS-01 into its intended Geosynchronous orbit.

The tweet said, “GSLV-F12/ NVS-O1 Mission is accomplished. After a flight of about 19 minutes, the NVS-O1 satellite was injected precisely into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. Subsequent orbit-raising maneuvers will take NVS-01 into the intended Geosynchronous orbit.”

This momentous launch ensures the continuity of NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) services. According to ISRO, NVS-01 is the first of the second-generation satellites envisaged for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) services. NVS series of satellites will sustain and augment the NavIC with enhanced features.

Similar to GPS, the Indian regional satellite navigation system NavIC provides accurate and real-time navigation within India and a wider area of 1,500 kilometers surrounding the Indian mainland. The NavIC signals offer timing precision of 50 nanoseconds and positional accuracy of more than 20 meters.

The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, standing tall at 51.7 meters, embarked on its 15th flight to carry the 2,232 kg navigation satellite NVS-01.

Following liftoff, the rocket was scheduled to deliver the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) at a height of around 251 kilometers, as per ISRO's objectives. The NVS-01 satellite, like its predecessor, has a built-in rubidium atomic clock, but this one is indigenous. It is also outfitted with navigation payloads such as L1, L5, and S groups.