ISRO places NVS-03 in transfer orbit to strengthen NavIC navigation

ISRO's GSLV-F18 launched NVS-03 from Sriharikota at 11:51 pm IST on October 30 and placed it in the intended geosynchronous transfer orbit about 18 minutes later. The insertion is a completed launch milestone, not confirmation that the satellite has finished orbit-raising and entered navigation service. NVS-03 is the third satellite in the second-generation series for NavIC, India's regional positioning, navigation and timing system. It carries an indigenous atomic clock alongside procured clocks, plus an L1 signal in addition to the existing L5 and S-band signals. The atomic clocks provide the precise timing needed to calculate a user's position from satellite signals. ISRO says the system is designed to cover India and a region extending about 1,500 km beyond its boundary. Chairman V. Narayanan said adding NVS-03 would bring the constellation to the minimum four satellites needed to restore positioning, navigation and timing services. Reaching transfer orbit is the first step; the spacecraft must still reach its operating orbit and be commissioned.

DTT summary based on The Hindu / ISRO's report. The full article is on the publisher's site.