ISRO Launches NVS-02 — NavIC Constellation Updated with L1 Band Capability
ISRO successfully launched NVS-02, the second satellite in the NavIC Next Generation (NVS) series, aboard GSLV-F15 on 29 January 2025.
What happened
ISRO successfully launched NVS-02, the second satellite in the NavIC Next Generation (NVS) series, aboard GSLV-F15 on 29 January 2025. NVS-02 adds the L1 frequency band (1575.42 MHz) to NavIC's existing L5 and S band signals, making the system compatible with civilian GPS receivers and smartwatch chipsets without hardware modification. The NVS series replaces the original IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) constellation, with improved atomic clocks and extended design life of 12 years. NavIC provides positioning accuracy of better than 20 metres over India and extends 1,500 km beyond its borders.
NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is India's own regional satellite navigation system, operated by ISRO. The original IRNSS constellation has 7 satellites (3 geostationary + 4 geosynchronous inclined). The NVS series upgrades add the L1 band — the same frequency used by GPS, Galileo, and GLONASS — enabling mass-market consumer device compatibility.
●NavIC covers India and a region extending 1,500 km around it, making it relevant for disaster management, fisheries, precision agriculture, and defence applications.
NavIC's strategic value is independence from foreign navigation systems — after Kargil (1999), the US denied India GPS access in the conflict zone, directly motivating IRNSS/NavIC development.
Factual Pointers
Practice · 2 questions
Consider the following statements about NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation):
1. NavIC has a constellation of 7 satellites, of which 4 are in geostationary orbit.
2. NavIC provides coverage over India and a region extending approximately 1,500 km beyond its borders.
3. The NVS series satellites add the L1 frequency band, enabling compatibility with consumer GPS receivers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following countries operate global (as opposed to regional) satellite navigation systems?
MCQ Practice
3 questions on this article
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