Isro hits ton in style with successful navigation satellite mission

Isro marked its 100th launch on Wednesday with the successful deployment of NVS-02, a navigation satellite designed to enhance terrestrial, aerial, and maritime navigation. The mission was executed using the GSLV-F15 rocket, which precisely placed the payload in orbit. (Photo: PTI)

This launch was the first under Isro chairman V Narayanan, who took office on January 16, 2025.

Expressing his joy, he said, "I am extremely happy to announce from the spaceport of Isro, that the first launch of this year, 2025, has been successfully accomplished, with GSLV- F15 launch vehicle precisely injecting the navigation satellite NVS-02 in the intended required (GTO) orbit."
"This mission is the 100th launch from our launchpads, which is a very significant milestone of India," the Isro chief added. (Photo: PTI)

As the 27.30-hour countdown concluded, the 50.9-meter tall Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), equipped with an indigenous cryogenic upper stage, lifted off majestically from Sriharikota’s second launch pad at 6:23 AM on Wednesday, leaving behind thick fumes. (Photo: PTI)

Over the years, Isro has conducted 100 successful launches, placing 548 satellites into orbit, with a total payload of 120 tonnes, including 23 tonnes from 433 foreign satellites.

The launch site has been the epicenter of India’s major space achievements, including:

Three Chandrayaan missions
The Aditya-L1 mission
A record-breaking launch of 104 satellites in a single mission
Multiple communication, Earth observation, and navigation satellites (PTI)

The NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) system is evolving into a key component of India’s indigenous satellite navigation infrastructure. The latest NVS-02 satellite includes the second indigenous Atomic Clock, a shining example of the Make in India initiative in cutting-edge space technology.
NavIC is now widely used across various sectors, including:
Strategic applicationsShipping vessel trackingTime synchronizationTrain trackingEmergency alert dissemination (Photo: PTI)

After a 19-minute journey through dark and cloudy skies, the rocket successfully separated its payload and placed it into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) with pinpoint accuracy. (Photo: PTI)

Isro’s space program was conceived by the visionary leader Prof. Vikram Sarabhai and has been carried forward by generations of dedicated scientists and leaders.

Since its inception under Dr Vikram Sarabhai, Isro has achieved:
100 launches from its spaceport
548 satellites placed in orbit
120 tonnes of payloads, including 23 tonnes from 433 foreign satellites.(Photo: ANI)

Narayanan emphasized Isro’s commitment to accelerating its activities in 2025 and beyond, acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership in space sector reforms.

He reaffirmed Isro’s goal of transforming India into a global space power over the next 20 years.

Isro’s major upcoming launches, including:

• NISAR satellite (joint mission with NASA)

• Gaganyaan’s uncrewed G1 mission

• More strategic experiments in 2025