India's Answer To GPS, ISRO's NVS-02 Satellite, Faces Hitch — What This Means
The NVS-01 satellite, launched in May 2023, was the first in the second-generation navigation satellite series, featuring new services in the L1 band and an indigenous atomic clock.
The Indian Space Research Organisation encountered a piece of bad luck with its NVS-02 satellite, a crucial component of India's indigenous navigation system, NavIC. Launched on January 29, 2025, aboard the GSLV-Mk2 rocket, the satellite failed to reach its intended geosynchronous transfer orbit due to a malfunction in its thrusters.
The NVS-02 satellite is currently in an elliptical GTO, which is not suitable for its planned navigation purposes. The issue arose because the valves needed to fire the thrusters for orbit raising did not open, preventing the satellite from moving to its designated orbit. Despite this, the satellite's systems are functioning well, with stable power generation and communication established with the ground station.
“The satellite systems are healthy and the satellite is currently in elliptical orbit. Alternate mission strategies for utilising the satellite for navigation in an elliptical orbit is being worked out,” the ISRO said in a statement.
NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation, is India's answer to the Global Positioning System (GPS) maintained by the US government. While GPS is a free service available to many countries, having an indigenous system like NavIC is crucial for several reasons.
Why ISRO's NavIC Is Important?
Strategic Independence: Relying on a foreign navigation system can pose security risks, especially during conflicts or geopolitical tensions. An indigenous system ensures that India has uninterrupted access to navigation services.
Enhanced Accuracy: NavIC provides accurate real-time positioning and timing services over India and a region extending approximately 1500 km around the Indian mainland. This is particularly beneficial for applications like transportation, disaster management, and mobile device location services.
Tailored Services: NavIC can be customised to meet specific regional needs, offering better service quality and reliability for Indian users.
The failure to achieve the desired orbit means that the advanced technology onboard NVS-02, including navigation payloads and atomic clocks, is not being utilised to its full potential. This is a blow, considering the substantial financial investment and the time-consuming development process involved in creating such satellites.
ISRO is exploring alternative strategies to utilise the NVS-02 satellite for navigation purposes in its current elliptical orbit. Salvaging the satellite is crucial to maximise the investment and maintain some level of navigation services. Additionally, ISRO has plans to launch two more satellites to enhance the NavIC system, which will be closely watched in light of the recent setback.
"The satellite systems are healthy and the satellite is currently in elliptical orbit. Alternate mission strategies for utilising the satellite for navigation in an elliptical orbit is being worked out," the ISRO statement further said.
NavIC, or the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consists of a constellation of seven satellites in geosynchronous and inclined geosynchronous orbits. The system provides accurate positioning and timing services over India and surrounding regions. The NVS-01 satellite, launched in May 2023, was the first in the second-generation navigation satellite series, featuring new services in the L1 band and an indigenous atomic clock.
The NVS-02 satellite, like its predecessor, is designed to improve the NavIC system with enhanced features and capabilities.
