New Delhi: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the launch of the NVS-02 satellite aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) in January 2025, announced ISRO Chairman S Somanath.
Somanath emphasized the upcoming year’s packed schedule, stating, “In 2025, we have many missions. To start with, we have the mission of GSLV launching the NVS-02 in the month of January.”
The NVS-02 mission builds on the successful launch of the NVS-01 satellite on May 29, 2023, by the GSLV-F12 rocket. The 2,232 kg satellite was placed into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and featured an indigenous atomic clock. Designed to enhance NavIC’s capabilities, NVS-01 introduced L1 band signals to extend service coverage. The upcoming NVS-02 mission is expected to further bolster NavIC with advanced features.
Chandrayaan-4 and Space Docking Milestones
Somanath also highlighted ISRO’s progress on the Chandrayaan-4 mission, revealing that docking operations for the mission will commence soon, with the final docking anticipated by January 7, 2025.
“Chandrayaan-4 has multiple modules, five in total, which will be launched at different times and integrated into two separate modules. These modules need to reach orbit and then dock both in Earth orbit and Moon orbit,” he explained.
This ambitious mission aims to achieve a successful lunar landing and return to Earth, marking another leap in India’s space exploration capabilities.
ISRO’s 99th Launch: PSLV-C60 and the SpaDeX Mission
ISRO recently celebrated its 99th launch, successfully deploying the PSLV-C60 rocket, which carried the SpaDeX payload and other satellites into orbit. “For us, this is the 99th launch of any launch vehicle from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. It’s a very significant milestone,” said Somanath.
The SpaDeX mission, a pioneering effort in space docking, aims to develop and demonstrate technology for rendezvous, docking, and undocking of two small spacecraft. These advancements are critical for missions like Chandrayaan-4, Gaganyaan, and the proposed Indian space station.
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Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology, celebrated the milestone on social media, writing, “Privileged to be associated with the Department of Space at a time when Team #ISRO mesmerizes the world with global wonders, one after the other.” Singh also highlighted India’s achievement in becoming the fourth country to develop docking technology with the indigenous Bharatiya Docking System, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Looking Ahead: ISRO’s 100th Launch
ISRO is now preparing for its landmark 100th launch, scheduled for early 2025, which will mark a historic milestone in India’s space journey. “In this 99th launch, PSLV-C60 successfully placed two SpaDeX satellites weighing 220 kilograms into a circular orbit of 475 kilometres,” said Somanath.
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The SpaDeX project will conduct further operations in preparation for docking conditions, with final demonstrations expected to pave the way for more sophisticated docking systems in future missions.
