India Launches New Satellite as Modi Praises Space Scientists
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the country’s space scientists following the successful launch of a new navigation satellite.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the NVS-03 satellite aboard its GSLV-F18 rocket from Sriharikota on October 30, 2026.
The rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 11:51 p.m. Indian time, carrying the navigation satellite.
Following the achievement, Modi congratulated the scientists and engineers, describing their dedication and ingenuity as a source of national pride.
He said the successful mission represented another important step towards strengthening India’s indigenous satellite navigation capabilities.
NVS-03 belongs to India’s Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) programme, which provides positioning, navigation and timing services.
The indigenous system is designed to cover India and approximately 1,500 kilometres beyond its geographical boundaries.
It supports several applications, including road transportation, maritime navigation, disaster management, emergency response and location-based services.
The satellite also introduces technological improvements, including an additional L1 navigation signal alongside the existing L5 and S-band signals.
It carries an indigenously developed atomic clock, which supports the precise time measurements required for satellite navigation.
The launch comes as India continues efforts to strengthen its navigation satellite constellation following operational challenges involving earlier satellites.
With the latest mission, ISRO aims to improve the reliability and reach of India’s independent navigation infrastructure.
The achievement further advances India’s efforts to develop critical space technologies and reduce dependence on foreign navigation systems.
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