ISRO Gears Up For Historic 100th Satellite Launch From Sriharikota Tomorrow

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is set to conduct its 100th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, marking a significant milestone in the country’s expanding space ambitions on January 29

The mission, carrying the NVS-02 satellite aboard the GSLV-F15 rocket, aims to bolster India’s regional navigation system, NavIC, which provides critical positioning services for civilian and military applications. This mission aims to provide accurate positioning data over India and nearby regions. The satellite will also facilitate the overall NavIC system, which will be helpful in personal navigation, disaster management and transportation. 

ISRO in a X post said, “NVS-02, the next-gen satellite in the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) series will enhance India’s regional navigation capabilities with precision and reliability.”

NavIC will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS). NavIC's SPS provides a position accuracy of better than 20 m (2σ) and timing accuracy better than 40 ns (2σ) over the service area, according to ISRO. NVS-02 is also expected to push forward technologies in the form of civilian band L1 signals and atomic clocks. 

An atomic clock is a precise timekeeping device that utilises the vibration of atoms to measure time while civilian band L1 signals is a frequency band in a satellite-based navigation system which provide timing, positioning and navigation. 

Sriharikota spaceport has two launch pads and has capabilities to handle a variety of launch vehicles like Gaganyaan, PSLV and GSLV. The spaceport has also been important in hosting Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), Lunar Exploration (Chandrayaan), etc. Also, recently the Union Cabinet has approved the third launch pad at a cost of Rs 3,984 crore. 

The 99th launch from Sriharikota was a PSLV-C60 mission that successfully placed two spacecraft in a circular orbit to carry out the Space Docking Experiment.

Sriharikota spaceport also succeeded in establishing India self-reliant in its space exploration mission. Not only for India, Sriharikota has also launched satellites for over 30 countries like Germany, Canada, USA, UK, South Korea, etc. Among other landmark missions, In 2017 the PSLV-C37 launched a record 104 satellites in a single mission. 

The satellite NVS-02 will be the first launch under newly appointed ISRO Chairman, Dr V Narayanan who joined on January 13, 2025. Dr. Narayanan also served as the Director of ISRO’s Liquid Propulsion System Centre (LPSC). He has also played a vital role in India’s Human Spaceflight Mission (Gaganyaan). The veteran scientist joined ISRO in 1984. 

Dr Narayanan has taken the helm of ISRO at a critical time when India is intensifying efforts to compete globally in the space economy, following its recent Chandrayaan-3 lunar landing and upcoming human spaceflight missions under Gaganyaan. 

With private sector participation rising and the government increasing investments in space infrastructure, ISRO’s landmark 100th launch signals the nation’s strategic push to become a key player in the global space economy.

With the global space economy projected to surpass $1 trillion by 2040, India is positioning itself as a competitive player, leveraging its cost-effective space technology to attract international partnerships. Major conglomerates like L&T, Tata, and Reliance are investing in space tech, while startups such as Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos are developing indigenous launch systems.