New Delhi. 27 January 2025. ISRO is preparing for its landmark 100th launch from Sriharikota. GSLV F15 will lift-off from the second launch pad at 06:23 hrs on January 29, 2025, carrying the NVS-02 navigation satellite. This will be the 100th launch to lift-off from Sriharikota. Over a span of 99 launches, various missions have been carried out from Sriharikota.

Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is India’s independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to users in India as well as the region extending about 1500 km beyond the Indian landmass, which is its primary service area.

NavIC is providing two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS). NavIC SPS provides a position accuracy of better than 20 m (2σ) and timing accuracy better than 40 ns (2σ) over the primary service Area. Five second-generation NavIC satellites viz., NVS-01/02/03/04/05 are envisaged to augment NavIC base layer constellation with enhanced features for ensuring continuity of services.

The NVS series of satellites incorporates L1 band signals additionally to widen the services.NVS-01, the first of the second-generation satellites was launched onboard GSLV-F12 on May 29. For the first time, an indigenous atomic clock was flown in NVS-01. 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. It will be placed at 111.75ºE replacing IRNSS-1E. NVS-02 uses a combination of indigenous and procured Atomic clocks for precise time estimation.

NVS-02 satellite was designed, developed and integrated at U R Satellite Centre (URSC) with the support of other satellite-based work Centres. On completion of Assembly and Integrated Testing (AIT), the satellite was subjected to satellite level thermovac test to verify and validate its design and performance in simulated space environment during November-December 2024. The satellite underwent dynamic test during December 2024 thus confirming its suitability to withstand the dynamic loads anticipated during launch.

A comprehensive Pre-shipment Review (PSR) of the performance and compliance of the Satellite during various phases of its realization was completed on December 27, 2024. The satellite was flagged off to SDSC-SHAR, the launch port of India on January 05, 2025. The Satellite has reached SHAR and the pre-launch campaign activities are in progress for a scheduled launch during January 2025.