The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has added another feather on its cap. ISRO has successfully completed 100th launch from Sriharikota. The GSLV-F15 was launched on 29th January 2025 at 6.23 am on Monday. With this launch India achieved new heights in space navigation.
GSLV-F15 rocket successfully put NVS-02 satellite in the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). The rocket was launched from Second Launch Pad (SLP) at Satish Dhawan Space Centre, SHAR (Sriharikota Range). The Space centre, which was popularly known as SHAR was renamed as Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR on 5th September 2002, in the memory of Prof. Satish Dhawan, a former Chairman of ISRO.
About NVS-01 and 02
The launch of the NVS-02 satellite contributes to upgrading India’s Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), known as NavIC (Navigation with Indian constellation). It was designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) services to users in India as well as to region extending about 1500km beyond Indian land mass. NavIC provides Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS).
NVS-02, the second satellite in the NVS series, is configured with navigation payload in L1, L5 and S bands in addition to ranging payload in C-band like its predecessor — NVS-01. It is configured on standard I-2K bus platform with a lift-off mass of 2250 kg and power handling capability of 3 kW. Placed at 111.75ºE it replaces IRNSS-1E.
NVS-02 uses a combination of indigenous and procured atomic clocks for precise time estimation.
NVS-01, the first of the second-generation satellites, was launched on board GSLV-F12 on May 29, 2023. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock was flown aboard NVS-01.
About Sriharikota
Sriharikota is in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh. It is a barrier island in the coastal area of Bay of Bengal. It separates the Bay of Bengal from Pulicat Lake. Sriharikota is the house of Indian Space Research Organisation. From this place India launches its different rockets such as Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehile.
Sriharikota spreads in an area of about 43,360 acres (175 sq.kms). It has a coast line of about 50 kilometers. It is rich in flora and fauna. Maximum of the area is covered by Eucalyptus, casuarina plantation, scrub jungle vegetation (including a few medicinal herbs), groves of coconut, palm and cane.
Pulicat Lake near here becomes house of many migratory birds in the month of October-December. It is a paradise for ornithologists and nature lover. Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water (more salinity than fresh water and less than sea water. It forms after mixing of fresh water and sea water.) lagoon in India after Chilika Lake.
