Context

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its new generation satellite NVS-02, carried by Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F15), from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. With this launch, Isro has placed in orbit 548 satellites weighing 120 tonnes.

NVS-02

• Second satellite in the NVS series of satellites
• Developed for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)
• Equipped with an indigenous atomic clock
• Configured with navigation payload in L1, L5 and S bands in addition to ranging payload in C-band like its predecessor-NVS-01.

100th Launch of ISRO

• ISRO celebrated its 100th launch from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• The GSLV-F15 is the 17th flight of India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) and 11th flight with Indigenous Cryo stage.
• The first big rocket to liftoff from Sriharikota was the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) on August 10, 1979.

IRNSS-Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC)

• Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)
• India's independent regional navigation satellite system
• Developed by: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
• Designed with a constellation of 7 satellites and a network of ground stations operating 24×7.
• Aim: To provide accurate Position, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to users in India.
• The IRNSS - NavIC project became operational in 2018.

Use of NavIC

• The necessity for an indigenous satellite navigation was recognized during the Kargil war when the US denied data for the region occupied by Pakistani troops.
• For Military needs and Disaster risk reduction etc.
• A lab in Faridabad will receive the time from NavIC which will be shared through an optic fibre to four other centres, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar and Guwahati, with each having an atomic clock.

What is an Atomic Clock?

• An atomic clock is a highly accurate timekeeping device that utilises the specific resonance frequencies of atoms to maintain precision.

Major Projects of India related to Satellite Navigation

• GAGAN (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation): Jointly developed by ISRO and the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
• IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System): Renamed as NavIC by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016.

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)

• GLONASS: Developed and operated by the Russian Federation
• Galileo: Developed and operated by the European Union
• BeiDou: Developed and operated by China

About ISRO

• Estb: 15 Aug 1969
• HQ: Bengaluru
• Chairman: V Narayanan
• Founder: Vikram Sarabhai