ISRO successfully launches NVS-03 navigation satellite

Why in News?

ISRO successfully launched the NVS-03 navigation satellite aboard the GSLV-F18 launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, on 30 October 2026.

The launch restored India’s independent regional navigation satellite system, NavIC, to its minimum operational configuration of four satellites.

Key Highlights of the GSLV-F18 Mission

• Launch vehicle: GSLV-F18.
• Satellite: NVS-03.
• Satellite weight: 2,250 kg.
• Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• Mission significance: 20th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV).
• Following separation from the launch vehicle, NVS-03 was successfully injected into its intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
• NVS-03 is the third satellite in ISRO’s next-generation navigation satellite series.

About NVS-03

• Designed to ensure continuity of navigation services under the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), popularly known as NavIC.
• Carries an indigenous atomic clock along with procured atomic clocks.
• Incorporates the L1 navigation signal, in addition to the existing L5 and S-band signals.
• The addition of the L1 signal expands the capabilities of the NavIC system.

About NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation)

• Developed by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• Earlier name: Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
• It is India’s independent regional satellite navigation system.
• Provides Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services to users.
• Covers the Indian landmass and a region extending approximately 1,500 km beyond India’s geopolitical boundary.

Types of NavIC Services

NavIC provides two types of navigation services:

Service	Features
Standard Positioning Service (SPS)	Open navigation service available to civilian users. Its signals are interoperable with other GNSS signals such as GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (European Union) and BeiDou (China).
Restricted Service (RS)	Encrypted navigation service available exclusively to authorised strategic users.

About Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)

• GSLV is a three-stage launch vehicle developed by ISRO.
• It is designed to place satellites into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
• Its distinctive feature is the indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage, used as the final stage.
• Propulsion system:

• First-stage boosters (L-40): Use liquid propellants consisting of nitrogen tetroxide (N₂O₄) and UH25.
• Cryogenic upper stage: Uses liquid hydrogen (LH₂) as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as oxidiser.

What is a Cryogenic Upper Stage?

• It is the final stage of a launch vehicle that uses propellants stored at extremely low temperatures.
• It uses liquid hydrogen as fuel and liquid oxygen as oxidiser.
• Cryogenic engines provide high efficiency and are particularly useful for placing heavy satellites into higher orbits.
• ISRO’s indigenous cryogenic upper stage replaced the Russian-supplied stage used in earlier GSLV flights.
• This strengthened India’s self-reliance in advanced launch vehicle technology.

CLICK HERE: GS TIMES UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED DAILY TEST (ENG & HINDI)

DOWNLOAD PDF: GS TIMES UPSC (CSE) PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED MONTHLY TEST PDF

CLICK HERE: DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ (FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS)

CLICK HERE FOR GS TIMES PRAHAR UPSC GS MAINS TEST SERIES