The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has effectively begun the countdown to its 100th mission which is a significant milestone in India’s space programme. The launch is scheduled to take place on January 29 at 6:23 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F15) that will carry the NVS-02 navigation satellite.
It is not just another mission to reach the skies but also to enhance India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system. NavIC is developed to offer accurate positioning, velocity and timing services and the coverage is extended up to the Indian subcontinent and 1,500 km corona. The NVS-02 satellite is about 2,250 kg in weight and is equipped with cutting edge navigation payloads in multiple frequencies, which will enhance the satellite’s value for terrestrial, aerial and maritime use.
Some of the key applications of the satellite include; precision farming, vessel and fleet management, mobile devices location based services, satellite orbit determination, Internet of Things applications and emergency communications. This mission, which is the first under the watch of new ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan, marks India’s efforts to enhance its technological prowess in navigation and positioning systems.
The GSLV-F15 was launched after the successful launch of the GSLV-F12 which carried the NVS-01 satellite two years ago. Thus, ISRO is setting a milestone of its 100th mission and creating path for new and innovative developments in the field of space exploration and navigation technology.
