The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its navigation satellite NVS-03, restoring India's regional navigation system NavIC to its minimum operational strength of four satellites. The satellite…
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its navigation satellite NVS-03, restoring India's regional navigation system NavIC to its minimum operational strength of four satellites. The satellite was carried aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket, which lifted off from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 11.51 pm following a 24-hour countdown. After a flight of around 18 minutes, the rocket successfully placed NVS-03 into its designated Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), marking another milestone for India's space programme.
The launch is expected to strengthen the country's independent navigation capabilities and improve services used for tracking trains, vehicles and ships. NVS-03 is part of the second generation of India's Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) satellites. It will join three other operational navigation satellites, including NVS-01, to restore the constellation to its minimum operational configuration. NavIC is India's indigenous satellite-based navigation system and serves as an alternative to global systems such as the US-based GPS.
Its services cover India and an area extending approximately 1,500 km beyond the country's boundaries. The satellite is equipped with indigenous and procured atomic clocks, including an Indian-made Rubidium atomic clock. It will transmit navigation signals through the L1, L5 and S bands. Following the successful launch, ISRO Chairman V Narayanan said the satellite would help restore Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services through the NavIC constellation. He described NavIC as a strategic national asset that provides India with independent navigation and timing capabilities.
The system also supports civilian applications, including real-time tracking of trains, vehicles and shipping vessels. NavIC's Role In 'One Nation, One Time' Project Narayanan said the NavIC constellation would play an important role in the government's 'One Nation, One Time' initiative. The navigation system is expected to support the development of a reliable timing infrastructure across the country. This assumes added significance with the government recently notifying the Legal Metrology (Indian Standard Time) Rules, 2026.
The ISRO chief also highlighted the performance of the GSLV rocket, which completed its 20th flight with the successful deployment of NVS-03. He said all systems of the launch vehicle performed as expected and the satellite was placed precisely into its designated orbit. What Happens Next? The 2,232-kg NVS-03 satellite will now use its onboard propulsion system to move towards its final geosynchronous orbital position at 32.5 degrees East.
This is a source-linked briefing. Read the original report from Pratidin .