Updated - October 30, 2026 07:26 pm IST
GSLV-F18/NVS-03 Mission is scheduled for launch on 30th October 2026, at 23:51 hours IST from Satish Dhawan Space Centre. (Photo: X/@isro) | Photo Credit: ANI
ISRO’s third space launch of 2026, GSLV-F18, will carry the 2,250-kg NVS-03 satellite into orbit. The mission is crucial to India’s efforts to gradually revive its ageing NavIC navigation satellite constellation.
Also read | Countdown progressing for ISRO’s crucial GSLV-F18 launch carrying navigation satellite NVS-03
Envisaged as India’s indigenous alternative to the U.S. GPS, Russia’s GLONASS and China’s BeiDou, NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is designed to provide independent navigation services across India and the surrounding region.
Around 18 minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff from the Second Launch Pad at Sriharikota, the GSLV-F18 rocket is expected to deploy the NVS-03 satellite into its initial Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). ISRO will then use the satellite’s onboard thrusters to raise it to its designated orbit.
NVS-03 is equipped with an indigenous atomic clock alongside procured atomic clocks. It also features the L1 signal, in addition to the existing L5 and S-band signals, to enhance India’s NavIC navigation services.
October 30, 2026 19:26
What is the present state of NavIC?
For NavIC’s core services to function effectively, at least four satellites are theoretically required. However, information shared by the Indian government indicates that only three of the constellation’s 11 satellites are currently capable of performing their primary functions.
These include first-generation satellites IRNSS-1B and IRNSS-1I, along with second-generation satellite NVS-01. IRNSS-1B has already exceeded its designed 10-year lifespan, making its continued operation uncertain, while IRNSS-1I could remain functional until around 2028. NVS-01, if it performs as intended, has at least another decade of service ahead. Meanwhile, NVS-02, launched in January 2025, was unable to raise its orbit after its onboard engines failed to fire, severely limiting its utility. As a result, NVS-01 is currently the only satellite that can be considered reliably operational over the long term.
October 30, 2026 19:21
Why is ISRO’s NVS-03 satellite launch crucial? | Explained
Why is ISRO’s NVS-03 satellite launch crucial? | Explained
ISRO’s NVS-03 launch could restore NavIC’s functionality, upgrading indigenous clocks and improving regional navigation amid recent launch setbacks.
Published - October 30, 2026 07:21 pm IST
Source: The Hindu · The Hindu Bureau
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