Tirupati: The Isro achieved a historic milestone on Wednesday with the successful launch of the GSLV-F15 rocket carrying the NVS-02 satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Th launch marked the 100th rocket mission in Isro’s cherished journey. It was also the first launch under the leadership of new chairman V Narayanan and the agency’s inaugural mission of the year.
The GSLV-F15 rocket, the 17th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), lifted off at 6.23 am from the second launch pad. Some 19 minutes after a smooth take-off, the rocket precisely deployed the NVS-02 into a 322.93km geosynchronous transfer orbit, ISRO has announced.
The GSLV-F15’s payload fairing, made of metal and with a diameter of 3.4 metres, protected the satellite during ascent, ensuring its safe journey into space. “This demonstrates Isro’s continuing mastery in executing complex space missions with pinpoint accuracy. Today, we celebrate the 100th successful launch. The Isro has placed over 500 satellites into orbit, including more than 400 foreign satellites,” Narayanan stated.
The 2,250kg NVS-02 satellite is a key part of India’s NavIC satellite navigation system. It is the second in the second generation of NavIC satellites, offering improved navigation with high precision. Featuring a Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard for precise time synchronization, it replaces the IRNSS-1E satellite, enhancing system capabilities, the Isro stated.
NavIC provides Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) services, covering India and extending 1,500km beyond its borders. It offers both Standard Positioning Service for civilians and Restricted Service for strategic uses, with accuracy of 20 metres and time precision within 40 nanoseconds.
The Isro had so far launched a total of 548 satellites, with over 120 tonnes of payload successfully placed in orbit. In addition to its national missions, the Isro has also contributed to global space exploration, having launched 433 foreign satellites into space. Key missions include the Chandrayaan lunar explorations, the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), the Aditya-L1 solar mission, and the launch of 104 satellites in a single mission, showcasing the agency’s growing technological prowess and ambition.
Union minister Jitendra Singh extended his congratulations to Isro, calling the 100th launch a remarkable achievement for the nation. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy described it a proud moment for the nation. Former AP chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy emphasised the importance of Sriharikota’s spaceport in India’s space journey, calling it the gateway to the nation’s future in space exploration.
Mission director Thomas Kurian expressed pride in the success of the 100th launch, emphasising that ISRO’s objective is not just to achieve milestones but to ensure perfect success in every mission.
