GSLV F18

GSLV - F18
GSLV Mk2 launch
Launch30 October 2026 (2026-10-30) 23:51, IST
PadSecond Launch Pad Satish Dhawan Space Centre
PayloadIndia NVS-03
OutcomeSuccess
Components
Serial no.F-18
Boosters4 L40H
First stageS139
Second stageGL40HT
Third stageCUS15
GSLV launches

The GSLV F-18 was the 20th flight of the GSLV and the 14th flight of Mk2 variant using indigenous Cryogenic Engine (CE).

Mission Overview

Pre-launch

ISRO began the 24-hour countdown on 29 October 2026 for the spacecraft launch. The mission was to place the satellite into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit at the end of a twenty minute flight. During the pre-flight Mission Readiness Review, ISRO decided to fly the NVS-03 satellite with its pyrotechnic valves already open. This was a major departure from standard safety protocols, necessitated by the fact that the fixes from the failures on NVS-02 was not implemented during the construction of NVS-03, but only from the subsequent satellites. Hyderabad based Ananth Technologies supplied 46 sub-components for the GSLV rocket, supporting a new data-relay package that has been integrated on the rocket.

Launch

The rocket lifted off from Shriharikota at 11.51pm IST. Following an 18 minutes flight, the NVS-03 satellite was placed in a geosynchronous transfer orbit with a 170km perigee and 38,080km apogee. It was the Fifth rocket launch from Shriharikota that year. The launch revitalised the NAVIC programme, with the minimum four satellites in orbit, allowing the satellite system to function with incresed accuracy.

Mission Statistics

This launch vehicle is a 3-stage launch vehicle. The first stage of GSLV was derived from the PSLV's PS1. The 138 tonne solid rocket motor is augmented by 4 liquid strap-ons which is powered by a Vikas rocket engine.

Payload

The Flight carried the NVS-03 satellite as a payload. NVS-03 is a Second generation navigation satellite, launched as a replacement for NVS-02 that though was launched successfully on GSLV F15, faced an on-board propulsion failure that rendered it inoperable. This payload is operating in L1 band, L5 band and S band. The satellite uses a highly stable indigenous Rubidium atomic clock, developed by Space Applications Center in Ahmedabad to replace the imported clocks used on the earlier satellites.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Bagla, Pallava (30 October 2026). "ISRO's 'Smart Boy' Rocket To Launch Key 'Swadeshi' GPS Satellite Today. Why It Matters". NDTV. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  2. ↑ Science Desk, India Today (30 October 2026). "Isro preps for GSLV-F18 NVS-03 launch tonight, but real test begins after liftoff". India Today. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  3. ↑ PTI (30 October 2026). "Countdown progressing for ISRO's crucial GSLV-F18 launch carrying navigation satellite NVS-03". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  4. ↑ "City firm Ananth plays key role in ISRO's navigation satellite launch". The Times of India. 31 October 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 31 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "Isro's GSLV-F18/NVS-03 mission successful: Next-generation navigation satellite placed in orbit; NavIC constellation gets a boost". The Times of India. 31 October 2026. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 11 November 2026.
  6. ↑ "GSLV-F18/NVS-03 MISSION". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 11 November 2026.
  7. ↑ "ISRO-GSLV_F18_NVS03_Mission_Brouchure" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Indian Space Research Organisation". www.isro.gov.in. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  9. ↑ Das, Mehul Reuben (23 May 2023). "India joins an elite club, one of 5 countries to use Rubidium Atomic Clock in their GPS satellite". Firstpost.