States » SouthPosted at: Oct 24 2026 2:26PM


In a significant mission, ISRO set for GSLV/NVS-03 launch on Oct 30 to augment NavIC consellation

Chennai, Oct 24 (UNI) Amid the urgent need to strengthen its NavIC constellation in the wake of fast changing geo-political situations, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the launch the NVS-03 Navigation Satellite using GSLV-MkII from the spaceport of Sriharikota on October 30.
The launch assumes highly significance as it comes after the setbacks of two PSLV mission. It returned with the successful 'Eye in the sky' GSLV-F17/EOS-05 Earth Observation Satellite (GISAT-1A) mission last month, and buoyed by this ISRO will embark on yet another push towards full operationalisation of India's indigenous satellite navigation system NavIC.
The 2,250 kg NVS-03 satellite is the third in the second generation NavIC series--IRNSS was the first-generation regional constellation. The GSLV carrying NVS-03 will lift off from the Second Launch Pad at 11.51 hrs on October 30, ISRO sources confirmed to UNI on Saturday.
This launch delayed for a while, comes in the backdrop of failure of NVS-02 launched in January last year onboard GSLV-F15. Though the satellite was placed in the GTO orbit, it could not be raised to its designated geostationary orbit because of a glitch in the pyro valve which resulted in the Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) in the spacecraft not getting the required oxidiser flow.
An Apex Committee formed to study the failure found that the most likely cause was the disengagement of one contact of the connector. The Committee has made some recommendations based on which all corrective measures were successfully implemented in the CMS-03 satellite launched on November 2, 2025, by LVM-3 M3 and the pyro systems performed satisfactorily.
ISRO also said these recommendations would be followed for all future missions.
Initially named Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), it was rechristened as NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) aimed at providing PNT (Position, Navigation and Timing) services across India and upto 1,500 km beyond its borders.
The NavIC contains a constellation of seven satellites -- three in GTO and four in inclined GTO. NVS-01 was in orbit, NVS-02 has failed, NVS-03 is slated for launch on October 30 and it would be followed by NVS-04 and NVS-05.
NavIC satellites are crucial for the Indian Armed forces for missile navigation,precise positioning and coordination of warships at sea and indigenous navigation support for troops movement and combat aircraft. Mandatorily there should be at least four NavIC satellites in GTO for the Indian Army as it would help in maintaining strategic autonomy and gain tactical advantage as modern military hardware such as ballistic missiles and precision-guided munitions require accurate PNT signals for effective functioning.
India has so far launched 11 Navigation satellites of which only three IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1L and NVS-01 which adds L1 band support, are providing the requisite services and NVS-03 will be the fourth. After NVS-03 comes to service ISRO could activate the NavIC system.
A successful NVS-03 launch would restore the standalone 3D positioning services for the NavIC system completing the mandatory requirement of four satellites for the benefit of the Indian Armed forces. NavIC offers dual services -- standard positioning service for civilians and an encrypted Restricted Service for authorised users like the Indian Military.
After the failed NVS-02 mission, another concern surfaced with the IRNSS-1F satellite, which was launched in March 2016. After completing its 10-year design life, the satellite's final onboard rubidium atomic clock failed. “On 13th March 2026, the procured on-board Atomic clock stopped functioning. However, the satellite will continue to function in-orbit for various societal applications to provide one way broadcast messaging services,” according to ISRO.
Following back-to-back PSLV mission setbacks (PSLV-C61 on May 18, 2025 and PSLV-C62 on January 12, 2026) and earlier orbital and clock issues, ISRO has adopted a cautious, review-heavy approach
Since the second successive failure of reliable and workhorse PSLV rocket, the space agency has adopted a cautious approach to launches—to understand and rectify the anomalies that caused the failures.
Against this backdrop, the upcoming NVS-03 launch assumes significance. The new satellite is expected to contribute to strengthening the NavIC constellation and increase the availability of navigation services.
The NavIC constellation was developed by ISRO to provide India with an independent satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing system. Unlike systems such as the US Global Positioning System (GPS), Europe's Galileo and Russia's GLONASS, NavIC
was conceived primarily to meet India's own navigation requirements. NavIC is more accurate than GPS according to scientists.
UNI GV 1425
Tags: #In a significant mission# ISRO set for GSLV/NVS-03 launch on Oct 30 to augment NavIC consellation
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