'Dedication and ingenuity of our space scientists': PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F18 launch carrying NVS-03

NewsIndia News'Dedication and ingenuity of our space scientists': PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F18 launch carrying NVS-03 'Dedication and ingenuity of our space scientists': PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F18 launch carrying NVS-03 Edited by Ayush Pandey / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Oct 31, 2026, 07:34 IST PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F18 launch carrying NVS-03 navigation satellite NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) scientists and engineers following the successful launch of the GSLV-F18 mission carrying the NVS-03 navigation satellite, saying the mission would strengthen India's indigenous satellite navigation system, NavIC.In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Congratulations to our scientists and engineers at ISRO on the successful launch of GSLV-F18 carrying NVS-03.

Watch ISRO As ‘Residual R&D Boutique’?: Staff Bodies Seek ‘Written Clarity’ On Private Space Sector Shift The successful launch is expected to strengthen India's strategic autonomy by helping restore the operational capabilities of NavIC, India's indigenous alternative to global navigation systems such as the US-operated GPS and Russia's GLONASS.The NVS-03 satellite carries an indigenously developed atomic clock, alongside imported atomic clocks, marking an important step towards reducing India's dependence on foreign technologies for satellite-based navigation.

Atomic clocks provide highly precise time signals that are essential for determining location, navigation and timing.NavIC, which was originally designed around a seven-satellite constellation, had been operating with only three active satellites, below the minimum requirement of four satellites for standalone positioning services.

This had limited its use for critical applications, including military navigation, precision positioning and coordination of naval assets.An operational NavIC constellation is particularly important for India's armed forces, which require reliable Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) signals for missile guidance, precision-guided weapons, troop movement, combat aircraft and naval operations.Dependence on foreign navigation networks can pose strategic vulnerabilities during conflicts, as access to such services could potentially be restricted or disrupted.

India experienced the limitations of relying on foreign satellite navigation systems during the 1999 Kargil war.With NVS-03, India aims to strengthen the availability of indigenous navigation services for both civilian and strategic applications.

NavIC is designed to provide coverage across India and up to 1,500 km beyond its geographical boundaries.Join conversation InsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig Development The original NavIC constellation comprised seven satellites supported by a network of ground stations operating round the clock.

Three satellites were placed in geostationary orbit, while four were placed in inclined geosynchronous orbits.However, the constellation's operational strength declined over time as ageing satellites could not be replaced as planned.

The launch of NVS-02 on January 29, 2025, also failed to deliver the intended results after a pyro valve signal loss in the engine prevented the satellite from reaching its designated orbit.The successful deployment of NVS-03 is expected to address some of these operational limitations and strengthen India's efforts to establish an independent satellite navigation capability.

Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. Ayush Pandey is a journalist at The Times of India, covering breaking news, politics, defence, and major legal and policy developments across India and the world.

His reporting focuses on elections, national security, and institutional affairs, tracking the decisions and conflicts that shape public life. He specialises in sharp explainers and in-depth feature stories that go beyond headlines to decode political shifts, defence strategy, geopolitical flashpoints, and changing public sentiment.

His work combines speed, clarity, and depth for a fast-moving digital audience. They Want Ruckus, Not Debate: Amit Shah’s Big Challenge To INDIA Bloc Over Vote Theft, CEC, SIR Row Madras HC Issues Notice To Saurav Das Over Nationality PIL; Ashutosh Ranka, Prashant Bhushan React ‘Firmly Planted Like Angad’s Foot’: Amit Shah Predicts BJP Victories In UP, Uttarakhand And Punjab Is Meta Biased Against Hindus?

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