By Aritra Banerjee
In a momentous stride for the nation’s space sector, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch NVS-01, the pioneering second-generation navigation satellite under the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) series. The launch, scheduled for May 29th, is emblematic of India’s space ambitions even as ISRO Chairman, S. Somnath, pays homage to the country’s scientific roots.
During a recent convocation ceremony at the Maharishi Panini Sanskrit and Vedic University, Somnath emphasised India’s rich heritage as a knowledge society since Vedic times. Citing Sanskrit texts that first described concepts like the solar system and planetary movements, he underscored India’s longstanding contribution to fields like mathematics, astronomy, and metaphysics. “Surya Sidhanta, a Sanskrit book which discusses the solar system, is one of the first I encountered in my field,” he shared.
However, he noted, this ancient knowledge encoded in Sanskrit remains largely untapped. The ISRO chief called for more research into these Sanskrit texts, affirming that such studies could contribute significantly to our understanding of the universe.
The NVS-01, marking a notable landmark in India’s space exploration journey, is poised to enhance the NavIC network’s capabilities. The NavIC system is India’s response to the Global Positioning System (GPS), offering regional navigation services through a constellation of seven satellites and ground stations. This system covers an area extending 1500 km beyond India’s boundary, providing position accuracy better than 20 meters and timing accuracy better than 50 nanoseconds.
Designed to meet the growing needs of the Civil Aviation sector, NVS-01 will incorporate L1 band signals, which are also used by global standards like GPS, alongside the NavIC system’s dedicated L5 band. This addition will not only fortify the system’s robustness but also extend its services.
The 2,232-kilogram NVS-01 will embark on its journey aboard ISRO’s workhorse, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), lifting off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
India’s space program, rooted in its past and oriented towards the future, continues to reinforce its position on the global stage. As ISRO prepares for the NVS-01 launch and acknowledges the country’s ancient scientific wisdom, the interconnectedness of India’s past, present, and future in space exploration and research becomes ever more clear.