ISRO’s 100th Mission Announced

ISRO concluded 2024 with the successful launch of its 99th mission, PSLV-C60. This mission included two experimental projects, SpaDex and POEM-4. As these experiments progress into 2025, ISRO has announced that its first mission of the year will mark milestone – the 100th mission.

Details of the 100th Mission

The 100th mission will be conducted using the GSLV Mk-II rocket. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath confirmed that this mission is scheduled for January 2025. The specific launch date remains undisclosed. The mission will be designated GSLV-F15/NVS-02 and aims to enhance India’s navigation satellite system.

Objectives of the GSLV-F15/NVS-02 Mission

This mission will be the 17th flight of the GSLV and the 8th operational flight featuring India’s indigenous Cryogenic stage. Key objectives include supporting precision military operations, aiding strategic applications, and enhancing navigation across various domains such as terrestrial, aerial, and maritime.

Significance of the NVS-02 / IRNSS-1K Satellite

NVS-02 will be the second satellite in the second generation of India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). It will feature two types of payloads – navigation and ranging. The navigation payload will transmit signals using L1, L5, and S bands. An atomic clock, typically a Rubidium clock, will ensure precise timekeeping. The ranging payload will include a transponder that sends time-stamped navigation signals to ground receivers. This system will provide accurate position, speed, and time data, ensuring reliable service regardless of weather conditions.

Enhanced Security and Future Prospects

The second-generation NavIC satellites will incorporate advanced encryption for secure communications. Currently, NavIC remains a regional system, but there are plans for potential global coverage in the future.

What is NavIC?

Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) is India’s indigenous regional satellite navigation system, developed by ISRO. It was formerly known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).

It provides precise positioning, navigation, and timing services across India and surrounding regions.

The system is interoperable with other global navigation systems like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. This enhances its reliability and utility across various applications.

Need for NavIC

National Security: It provides India with an independent and secure navigation system, reducing reliance on foreign systems (like GPS) that may be restricted during crises.

Enhanced Regional Navigation: It offers tailored accuracy for South Asia, unlike global systems that have broader coverage.

Civilian Use: It supports applications like agriculture, transportation, and disaster management.

GKToday Notes:

SpaDex: SpaDex is an experimental mission by ISRO aimed at developing technologies for future space stations. It signifies India’s ambition to enhance its capabilities in human spaceflight.
POEM-4: POEM-4 is another experimental mission that focuses on developing payloads for future satellite systems. It plays important role in advancing India’s space technology and research initiatives.
NavIC: NavIC stands for Navigation with Indian Constellation. It is India’s regional satellite navigation system, designed to provide accurate positioning services to users in India and surrounding regions.
Rubidium Atomic Clock: A Rubidium atomic clock is used in navigation satellites for precise timekeeping. It measures time by counting oscillations of rubidium-87 atoms, achieving remarkable accuracy over millions of years.