ISRO to launch navigation satellite NVS-03 on Friday

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced its next mission: the launch of the navigation satellite NVS-03 on October 30 from Sriharikota. This satellite is part of the next-generation navigation system designed to maintain continuity of navigation services for the IRNSS series. The NVS-03 will be equipped with an indigenous atomic clock, alongside other atomic clocks, and satellite navigation signals to provide extensive coverage of the entire Indian landmass, extending up to 1500 km.

The NVS-03 has a mass of approximately 2,250 kg and will be launched aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. The GSLV-F18 has previously been used for 19 successful missions. ISRO's attempt to launch the NVS-02 on the GSLV-F15 in January 2025 was unsuccessful at the orbit raising stage, due to a drive signal failure to the pyro valve of the oxidiser line in the engine, which was intended to raise the satellite from an elliptical to a circular orbit.

Post-analysis of the NVS-02 mission, corrective measures were suggested by the Apex Committee to prevent such issues in the NVS-03 launch.