In a moment of devotion and gratitude, ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan, accompanied by a team of scientists, visited the Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala on Tuesday to offer prayers for the success of India’s highly anticipated GSLV-F15/NVS-02 rocket launch. The prayers come as ISRO prepares for a significant milestone: its 100th launch at the Sriharikota spaceport.
Dr. Narayanan and his team placed a model of the GSLV-F15 rocket at the feet of Lord Venkateswara, as a symbol of their hope for the successful deployment of the satellite. The ISRO scientists also performed a special prayer seeking divine blessings for the upcoming mission, which is expected to carry India’s NVS-02 navigation satellite into space.
In a statement to ANI, Dr. Narayanan expressed his gratitude towards the Indian government for its support, highlighting a crucial development for ISRO’s future. “I am grateful that the Prime Minister has sanctioned ₹400 crores for the third launch pad at ISRO, which will allow us to launch heavier rockets into space,” he said. This new infrastructure will provide the necessary capabilities to handle more ambitious space missions in the future.
The GSLV-F15/NVS-02 mission, set for its historic launch tomorrow, will be the 100th launch at Sriharikota and marks another step in India’s progress in space exploration. The rocket, which will lift off at 6:23 AM from the second launch pad, will carry the NVS-02 satellite into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This mission is notable as the GSLV-F15 is the 8th operational flight of the GSLV series, equipped with an indigenous Cryogenic stage.
In a significant advancement, the GSLV-F15 rocket is also fitted with a new 3.4-meter metallic payload fairing, designed to accommodate larger payloads. The NVS-02 satellite, part of India’s NavIC system, will further enhance the country’s independent regional navigation satellite capabilities. NavIC, India’s own regional navigation satellite system, is designed to provide accurate position, velocity, and timing services to users across India and surrounding regions.
NavIC promises improved accuracy in position and timing, offering a service area with positioning accuracy better than 20 meters and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds. This system is crucial for enhancing both civilian and military applications across India, ensuring that India remains at the forefront of technological advancements in space.
As ISRO marks this historic achievement, it is clear that the space agency’s continued success will rely on both innovation and the blessings it has sought from the divine in its mission to further explore the final frontier.
Sources By Agencies
