ISRO launches NVS-03, bringing India's NavIC back to four satellites

India's own satellite navigation system has had a rough few years. On 30 October, the Indian Space Research Organisation launched a satellite meant to put it back on its feet: NVS-03, lifted by the GSLV-F18 rocket from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

The launch

About 18 minutes after lift-off, the rocket released the 2,250 kg satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it will raise itself to its working position. It was the 20th flight of the GSLV. "The vehicle systems have performed as predicted," ISRO chairman V. Narayanan said, according to The Hindu.

Why NavIC needed it

NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation, formerly IRNSS) is India's regional alternative to GPS. It covers India and an area extending about 1,500 km beyond its borders, and is used for timing, vehicle and ship tracking and real-time train tracking.

The system has been weakened by atomic clock failures on older satellites; The Hindu notes that the last working clock on IRNSS-1F stopped in March. The previous replacement, NVS-02, failed to reach its intended orbit. Narayanan said three satellites were already working and NVS-03 brings NavIC back to the minimum operational configuration of four, restoring its positioning, navigation and timing services.

What's new on board

NVS-03 is the third of ISRO's next-generation navigation satellites, with a planned life of 12 years. According to ISRO, it carries an Indian-made atomic clock alongside procured clocks, and adds an L1 signal to the existing L5 and S-band signals. L1 is the band used by GPS and most phone chipsets, which should make NavIC easier for everyday devices to pick up.

For phone owners, the change won't be instant: a phone needs a chipset and software that support NavIC, and the satellite still has to reach its slot and enter service. It's a reminder that phones increasingly talk to satellites in more than one way; our satellite texting explainer covers the other big use. And for more space news from this week, see NASA's call for ideas to save the Hubble telescope.