ISRO Prepares for Landmark 100th Mission with GSLV-F15 Launch | Fusion - WeRIndia

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a historic milestone as it starts 2025 with its 100th mission.

Scheduled for January, this landmark launch will use the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk-II.

Named the GSLV-F15/NVS-02 Mission, it aims to strengthen India’s navigation capabilities.

The mission will carry the IRNSS-1K satellite, a crucial component of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system.

NavIC is India’s answer to global navigation systems like the USA’s GPS, providing both civilian and military applications.

The upcoming satellite will be the second in NavIC’s second-generation series and enhance precision and coverage across multiple domains.

The GSLV-F15 mission will support a variety of critical operations, including:

• Military and strategic applications
• Navigation for land, air, and sea transportation
• Precision agriculture and geodetic surveying
• Emergency response services and fleet management
• Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications
• Timing services for financial systems, power grids, and satellite tracking

Features of the IRNSS-1K Satellite

The IRNSS-1K satellite includes advanced payloads, such as a navigation module that transmits signals through the L1, L5, and S bands.

It also carries a Rubidium atomic clock, known for extraordinary accuracy, ensuring precise timekeeping for navigation services.

The satellite’s enhanced encryption will provide secure communication, crucial for both civilian and defence purposes.

The second-generation satellites in NavIC offer significant upgrades, including a robust security framework.

With improved encryption and signal precision, the NavIC system is poised to benefit sectors like transport, agriculture, and disaster management.

GSLV’s Remarkable Track Record

This mission marks the 17th flight of the GSLV and its 11th using an indigenous cryogenic stage.

It follows the successful launch of GSLV-F12 in May 2023, which deployed the first second-generation navigation satellite, NVS-01.

ISRO’s continued advancements signal its commitment to enhancing India’s technological capabilities.

As global navigation systems dominate, NavIC is steadily positioning itself as a regional force with aspirations to expand worldwide.

Image Credit: Ank Kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ISRO_GSLV_(Geostationary_Satellite_Launch_Vehicle)_model_at_HAL_Museum,_Bengaluru_(Ank_Kumar)_03.jpg