NVS-03 reaches geosynchronous orbit; satellite in good health
‘Four orbit manoeuvres have been successfully completed with a cumulative LAM engine burn of 6164 seconds; with this the satellite has reached Geo Synchronous Orbit at an inclination of 29.980,’ said ISRO
A GSLV rocket carrying second-generation navigation satellite NVS-03 lifts off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
The NVS-03 satellite launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on October 30, 2026, has reached the intended Geo Synchronous Orbit.
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ISRO said in an update on Wednesday (November 4, 2026) that following four successful orbit manoeuvres, the satellite has reached Geo Synchronous Orbit (35765 km x 36196 km) at an inclination of 29.980.
“Four orbit manoeuvres have been successfully completed with a cumulative LAM engine burn of 6164 seconds. With this the satellite has reached Geo Synchronous Orbit [35765 km x 36196 km] at an inclination of 29.980,” ISRO said.
The NVS-03 satellite was successfully injected into 170.3 km x 38080 km orbit by GSLV on October 30.
The NVS-03 is the third satellite in the next generation navigation satellite system envisaged for providing continuity of navigation services for the IRNSS series.
The satellite carries indigenous atomic clock along with the procured clocks. It also includes L1 signal in addition to L5 and S band signals with coverage over Indian land mass and a region extending 1500 km around Indian geopolitical boundary.
The space agency also said that the satellite’s health is normal.
The development is significant as ISRO in 2025 was unable to perform the intended orbit raising operations for the NVS-02 satellite due to a valve malfunction. The NVS-02, the second satellite in the NVS series, was launched by the ISRO on January 29, 2025.
science (general) / India in Space / space programme
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