ISRO bounces back: Two GSLV launches in 56 days restore NavIC

SRIHARIKOTA: ISRO has regained momentum with back-to-back GSLV successes. On October 30, GSLV-F18 placed the 2,250-kg NVS-03 navigation satellite into orbit, just 56 days after GSLV-F17 launched EOS-05 on September 4.

The success restores NavIC to four operational satellites — the minimum needed for standalone positioning services — after atomic clock failures and the failed NVS-02 mission in January 2025 had reduced the fleet to three.

ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan said NVS-03 carries indigenous and procured atomic clocks and will support civilian and strategic navigation, including the ‘one nation, one time’ project.

ISRO also confirmed progress on Gaganyaan, completing crew module separation tests ahead of the first uncrewed G1 mission, and declared its SpaDex docking mission fully successful.