What is NVS-03? ISRO to launch satellite on October 30; Why was NVS-02 not successful? Explanation of the main reasons | Today’s news
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch its much-anticipated navigation satellite NVS-03 aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) on October 30, the space agency said on Wednesday.
The GSLV-F18/NVS-03 mission is scheduled to lift off at 11:51 pm on Friday from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
What is NVS-03?
NVS-03 is the third satellite in India’s next generation navigation satellite system, designed to ensure continuity of service under the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
The satellite is equipped with indigenous atomic clocks along with procured atomic clocks. In addition to the existing L5 and S bands that provide location and location information, it also offers the L1 frequency band.
The navigation system is designed to cover the Indian mainland and an area extending up to 1,500 km beyond the country’s geopolitical boundaries.
Why did the NVS-02 satellite fail?
Marking the space agency’s 100th launch, ISRO’s GSLV-F15 rocket successfully placed the 2250 kg NVS-02 satellite into its intended 170 km x 37,785 km initial elliptical transfer orbit on 29 January 2025. The satellite’s solar panels also successfully deployed after launch.
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However, NVS-02 could not reach its final circular operational orbit because its onboard liquid fuel engine failed to ignite during the orbital raising maneuver.
An investigation by ISRO’s Apex Committee, based on telemetry analysis, identified a failure of the electrical signal reaching the pyrovalve. This valve uses an explosive-triggered mechanism to open the fuel and oxidizer required to start the engine.
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The panel found that at least one contact in each of the main and redundant paths of the electrical connector had opened. This disrupted the electrical circuit and prevented the engine launch mechanism from functioning, even though the satellite had built-in backup systems.
What is NavIC and how does it work?
ISRO plans to deploy five second-generation NavIC satellites — NVS-01, NVS-02, NVS-03, NVS-04 and NVS-05 to augment the existing satellite constellation and provide uninterrupted navigation services with enhanced capabilities.
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The NVS series introduces signals in the L1 frequency band in addition to the existing bands, thereby expanding the range of navigation services offered by the system.
NVS-01, the first satellite in this second-generation series, was launched aboard a GSLV-F12 rocket on May 29, 2023. The mission also marked the first time the original atomic clock was carried aboard an Indian navigation satellite.
Navigating with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is India’s independent regional satellite navigation system. It is designed to provide users with accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) information across India and an area extending approximately 1,500 km beyond the country’s landmass.
NavIC offers two types of service: Standard Positioning Service (SPS), available to civilian users, and Restricted Service (RS), an encrypted service intended for authorized users.
