The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully carried out the first orbit manoeuvre of the NVS-03 navigation satellite, marking an important step in positioning the spacecraft at its designated geosynchronous orbital slot.

NVS-03 was launched aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket and injected into a 170.3 km × 38,080 km transfer orbit on 30 October 2026 at 23:51 hrs.

Designed as the third satellite in India's next-generation navigation satellite series, NVS-03 is intended to ensure uninterrupted navigation services for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), also known as NavIC.

The spacecraft is equipped with an indigenous atomic clock alongside procured atomic clocks, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of timing and navigation services.

It also introduces the L1 navigation signal in addition to the existing L5 and S-band services, expanding the capabilities of the NavIC network. Coverage extends across the Indian land mass and up to 1,500 km beyond India's geopolitical boundaries.

As part of the orbit-raising sequence, ISRO successfully executed the planned first manoeuvre on 31 October 2026 at 16:48 hrs. During the operation, the onboard Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) engine was fired for 2,174.8 seconds.

Following the burn, the satellite's estimated orbit changed to 5,477.6 km × 37,833.4 km. ISRO confirmed that the spacecraft remains in normal health.

Further orbit manoeuvres are scheduled in the coming days to gradually raise and circularise the orbit before positioning NVS-03 in Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) at the 111.75o East orbital slot.

The mission is a significant milestone for the NavIC constellation, which serves as India's independent regional navigation system. Once fully deployed in GSO and brought into service, NVS-03 will strengthen Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities for both civilian and strategic users.

The satellite is expected to help restore and reinforce NavIC's operational configuration, supporting applications ranging from transportation and location-based services to critical national infrastructure and defence requirements.

NavIC provides accurate navigation coverage across India and the surrounding region extending roughly 1,500 km beyond the country's landmass, offering both standard services for civilian users and restricted services for authorised users.

With NVS-03 progressing through its orbit-raising campaign, the constellation moves closer to enhanced resilience, improved accuracy and greater service continuity.

ISRO