On January 26, 2025, ISRO announced the successful completion of the integration of its GSLV-F15 rocket with the NVS-02 satellite. The GSLV-F15, equipped with an indigenous cryogenic stage, is scheduled for launch on January 29, marking a significant milestone as it will be the 100th mission conducted from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. In a social media update on platform ‘X’, the agency expressed excitement about the teamwork involved in this mission, stating, “GSLV-F15 integration complete! Take a sneak peek at the incredible teamwork behind this mission: Countdown: Less than 3 days to launch! Join us as we unlock new frontiers.” The GSLV-F15 is set to deploy the NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The first satellite of this second-generation series, NVS-01, was successfully launched aboard GSLV-F12 on May 29, 2023.
NVS-02, the second satellite in the NVS series, is equipped with navigation payloads operating in L1, L5, and S bands, along with a ranging payload in the C-band, similar to its predecessor, NVS-01. ISRO has highlighted that the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system is India’s autonomous regional navigation satellite system, designed to deliver precise Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services to users within India and extending approximately 1,500 kilometers beyond the Indian territory, which constitutes its primary service area.
NVS-01/02/03/04/05 are intended to enhance the NavIC base layer constellation by incorporating advanced features to ensure the continuity of services, as stated by ISRO. The space agency further noted that the NVS-02 satellite employs a mix of domestically developed and acquired atomic clocks to achieve accurate time measurement. Additionally, the design, development, and integration of the NVS-02 satellite were carried out at the U R Satellite Centre (URSC), with contributions from various satellite-based work centers, as mentioned by ISRO. The GSLV-F15 mission marks the 17th launch of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and the 11th mission utilizing the Indigenous Cryo stage. Furthermore, it represents the eighth operational flight of the GSLV featuring an indigenous Cryogenic stage, according to ISRO.