ISRO to launch NVS-03 navigation satellite on GSLV-F18 tonight
India's third second-generation NavIC satellite lifts off from Sriharikota at 11:51 pm IST on October 30.
KEY POINTS
- GSLV-F18 will launch NVS-03 at 11:51 pm IST on October 30 from Sriharikota
- NVS-03 is the third second-generation NavIC satellite and weighs 2,232 kg
- The satellite adds an L1 signal and carries indigenous and procured atomic clocks
- This is the 20th flight of India's GSLV rocket
- Live coverage will be available on ISRO's official website and YouTube channel
The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch the GSLV-F18 rocket carrying the NVS-03 navigation satellite at 11:51 pm IST on Friday, October 30, from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The 51.7-metre-tall GSLV Mk II rocket will place the 2,232 kg satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit.
NVS-03 is the third satellite in India's second-generation NavIC programme, designed to augment the existing constellation and ensure continuity of navigation services. It carries an indigenous atomic clock along with procured atomic clocks and adds the L1 navigation signal to the existing L5 and S signals.
“Launch Day! The GSLV-F18/NVS-03 Mission is scheduled for launch today, 30 October 2026, at 23:51 hrs IST from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota.”
NavIC provides accurate Position, Velocity and Timing services across India and a region extending approximately 1,500 km beyond the Indian landmass. The system offers two services: the Standard Positioning Service for civilian users and the encrypted Restricted Service for authorised users.
ISRO plans five second-generation navigation satellites to strengthen the NavIC constellation. The first, NVS-01, launched aboard GSLV-F12 on May 29, 2023, and marked the first flight of an indigenous atomic clock on an Indian navigation satellite.
The launch comes as several existing NavIC satellites have stopped working properly, while replacement attempts have also faced setbacks. ISRO announced the schedule on X, describing it as launch day for the GSLV-F18/NVS-03 mission.
Space enthusiasts can watch the launch live through ISRO's official digital platforms, including its website and YouTube channel. The 20th GSLV flight marks another step in India's effort to strengthen its indigenous satellite navigation system.
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