Finance
ISRO, India’s space agency, achieved a momentous milestone on Wednesday morning by successfully launching its 100th GSLV rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
At 6:23 a.m., the GSLV-F15 rocket launched, bringing the NVS-02 navigation satellite into space and adding another milestone to the country’s space exploration achievements.
ISRO used social media to announce the historic occasion, posting:
“LIFTOFF! The GSLV-F15 has successfully taken flight, carrying NVS-02 into its planned orbit. Stay tuned for more mission updates!”
The GSLV-F15 flight was particularly noteworthy as it is the 17th mission of the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th successful mission utilising an indigenous cryogenic stage.
It also marks the 8th operational flight of GSLV featuring the indigenous Cryogenic stage, and the milestone 100th launch from India’s renowned spaceport in Sriharikota.
The GSLV-F15 payload fairing is a metallic variant with a diameter of 3.4 meters that will deliver the NVS-02 satellite in geosynchronous transfer orbit.
The NVS-02 is one of the second-generation satellites for India’s NavIC navigation system.
The navigation satellite system is intended to deliver accurate Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services to customers in India as well as places around 1500 kilometers outside the Indian landmass.
The new NVS-02 satellite includes additional capabilities such as support for the L1 frequency band, which will increase service and reliability.
“The NVS-02 satellite is the second generation of NavIC satellites, featuring a standard I-2K bus platform. It will have a lift-off mass of 2,250 kg, power handling capability of around 3 kW, navigation payload in L1, L5, and S bands, ranging payload in C-band and will be positioned at 111.75 degrees E, replacing IRNSS-1E,” ISRO said.
NavIC will offer two types of services: Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service. NavIC’s SPS achieves a position precision of more than 20 metres and a timing accuracy of more than 40 nanoseconds within its service area.
This launch represents an important milestone in the country’s technological and scientific accomplishments in space exploration.
Source: IANS
