ISRO places NVS-03 navigation satellite in geosynchronous orbit
The satellite reached its intended orbit after four successful manoeuvres to support the NavIC navigation system.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully placed the NVS-03 navigation satellite into its designated geosynchronous orbit, according to reports from The Hindu, Urban Acres, and Deccan Chronicle. The satellite reached an orbit of 35,765 km x 36,196 km with an inclination of 29.98 degrees.
The spacecraft was launched on October 30, 2026, at 11.51 pm via the GSLV-F18 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It was initially injected into an orbit of 170.3 km x 38,080 km before undergoing four orbit-raising manoeuvres.
ISRO stated that these manoeuvres involved a cumulative Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engine burn of 6,164 seconds. The space agency confirmed that the satellite is in normal health.
NVS-03 is the third spacecraft in a next-generation series designed to maintain the continuity of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). The satellite carries an indigenous atomic clock as well as procured clocks.
The satellite provides L1, L5, and S-band signals, covering the Indian landmass and a region extending 1,500 km beyond the country's geopolitical boundaries. This successful placement allows for upcoming commissioning tasks to bolster India's independent navigation infrastructure.