India simply launched its first mission of 2025.
The Indian House Analysis Organisation’s (ISRO) Geosynchronous Satellite tv for pc Launch Automobile (GSLV) lifted off from Satish Dhawan House Centre on schedule right this moment at 7:53 p.m. EST (0053 GMT and 6:23 a.m. native time on Jan. 29).
It was the a centesimal launch general from the storied spaceport, which lies on the barrier island Sriharikota, off India’s southeastern coast. The primary orbital liftoff from the location occurred in August 1979, according to The Hindu.
The three-stage, 167-foot-tall (50.9 meters) GSLV succeeded in its mission, delivering a satellite tv for pc known as NVS-02 to geostationary switch orbit about 19 minutes after liftoff.
NVS-02 is the second of 5 deliberate next-gen spacecraft within the Navigation with Indian Constellation. NavIC “is India’s unbiased regional navigation satellite tv for pc system designed to supply correct Place, Velocity and Timing (PVT) service to customers in India in addition to the area extending about 1500 km [930 miles] past the Indian landmass, which is its main service space,” ISRO officers wrote in a mission description.
Associated: Details about ISRO, the Indian House Analysis Organisation
India began assembling NavIC a couple of decade in the past and launched the primary NVS satellite tv for pc in Might 2023, additionally aboard a GSLV rocket. The 5 spacecraft on this new collection “are envisaged to reinforce [the] NavIC base layer constellation with enhanced options for guaranteeing continuity of providers,” ISRO officers wrote.
Tonight’s launch was the primary of the 12 months for India. The nation launched 5 area missions in 2024, together with the historic SpaDeX satellite-docking demonstration on Dec. 30.
Editor’s word: This story was up to date at 8:20 p.m. ET on Jan. 28 with information of profitable launch and satellite tv for pc deployment.