Tirupati: The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Monday successfully placed the NVS-01, the first of a second-generation of navigation satellites on board its workhorse rocket GSLV from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota of Andhra Pradesh.
Isro said that the satellite was placed in the geosynchronous transfer orbit and subsequent orbit-raising manoeuvres will take the NVS-01 into the intended geosynchronous orbit.
Launched at 10.42 am from the second launch pad at the facility in Tirupati district of AP, this was the GSLV’s 15th flight.
The NVS-01 navigation satellite, weighing 2,232 kilograms, is the first in the second generation of the navigation satellite series, which will ensure continuing legacy of the NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) services, according to a release.
The L1 navigation band is popular for providing position, navigation and timing services for civilian users and for interoperability with other GNSS signals
Speaking to reporters after the successful launch, Isro Chairman S. Somanath said that the spaceport in Sriharikota is abuzz with activity since it has several missions planned, including the Chandrayaan-III, in the coming months.
“Isro will have a busy year ahead with a series of missions involving PSLV, GSLV, the heaviest rocket-LVM, and SSLV. Among the missions are the third Lunar Mission Chandrayaan in July, INSAT-3DS satellite (launch), and the Isro-Nasa Nisar satellite mission,” he said.
Officials said that the NVS series of satellites will sustain and augment the NavIC with enhanced features. This series incorporates L1 band signals additionally to widen services, they said.
They said that the NavIC is a constellation of seven satellites that work with a round-the-clock network of ground stations. Three satellites of the constellation are in a geostationary orbit, while four others are in an inclined geosynchronous one. The NavIC covers India and a region of up to 1,500 kilometres beyond the country’s boundary.
Among Isro’s upcoming projects, the INSAT-3DS satellite will be launched using the GSLV rocket, according to the secretary of the department of space. Besides that, the rocket crew escape systems will be tested ahead of the first human flight mission, Gaganyaan, followed by two unmanned missions.
Dr Somanath said: “We’re preparing for the test vehicle mission. We must obtain the crew module and the crew escape system. We will integrate the systems with the rocket by July.”
He said that the crew module’s safety systems and the crew escape system will be tested at an altitude of around 14 kilometres.
