Editorial: Yet another milestone for ISRO

ISRO’s 100th mission is a bold statement of intent and signals that India is ready to compete on the global stage

From using a creaking, old bullock cart to transport a new satellite to the launch station to successfully completing its 100th mission with a phenomenal success rate, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has come a long way. Its arduous journey has come to symbolise the triumph of self-reliance over technology denials. For decades, the export controls on strategic technologies were used by the developed world to prevent India from developing missile or nuclear technology. Now, India is on the other side of the table, having established its niche strengths. With the 100th mission, sending a navigation satellite NVS-02 into orbit aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F15) from Sriharikota, India has once again demonstrated its growing prowess in space technology. This mission not only marks a technical triumph but also underscores the country’s determination to establish itself as a space superpower, joining the ranks of the United States, Russia and China. ISRO’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. What began as an ambitious initiative by pioneers like Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan has transformed into a globally respected space programme. Its success is a testament to India’s ability to innovate, adapt and achieve remarkable feats despite financial and technical constraints. A key highlight of this 100th mission is the deployment of the NVS-02 satellite, part of India’s NavIC navigation system. Unlike other nations that remain dependent on the US-owned GPS, India is striving for self-reliance in satellite-based navigation. NavIC will play a crucial role in applications ranging from defence and disaster management to agriculture and fleet tracking.

NavIC will provide two types of services — Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS). The SPS provides a position accuracy of better than 20 metres and a timing accuracy of better than 40 nanoseconds over the service area. From launching India’s first satellite Aryabhata in 1975 to sending the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) into orbit in 2013 at an astonishingly low cost, Indian space scientists have repeatedly defied expectations. The Chandrayaan missions have expanded our understanding of the Moon, with Chandrayaan-1 confirming the presence of water molecules and Chandrayaan-3 making a historic landing near the Moon’s south pole. India’s space achievements are not just about scientific curiosity; they have real-world implications. The launch of communication satellites like GSAT-11 has revolutionised broadband connectivity, while Earth observation satellites like Cartosat have enhanced urban planning, disaster management and agriculture. Additionally, the Aditya-L1 mission to study the Sun and the successful deployment of the PSLV-C60/SPADEX mission for spacecraft docking technologies show ISRO’s increasing expertise in deep space exploration and advanced orbital manoeuvres. ISRO has also played a key role in international collaborations, deploying satellites for countries like Brazil and the European Space Agency. Isro’s 100th mission is more than just a milestone; it is a bold statement of intent. It signals that India is ready to lead, innovate and compete on the global stage.

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