ISRO aims to launch 100 missions in next five years: Chairman Narayanan

New Delhi: India celebrated a major achievement on Wednesday with the successful launch of its 100th GSLV rocket. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced that the national space agency aims to conduct 100 missions over the next five years. The GSLV-F15 rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 6:23 a.m., carrying.

New Delhi: India celebrated a major achievement on Wednesday with the successful launch of its 100th GSLV rocket. ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan announced that the national space agency aims to conduct 100 missions over the next five years.

The GSLV-F15 rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 6:23 a.m., carrying the NVS-02 navigation satellite into orbit, marking a significant milestone in India’s space endeavors.

“This is a historical achievement,” Narayanan stated after the launch, crediting the success to the dedication and collaboration of the ISRO team. The 100th launch marks 46 years of progress since the first Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV) took off from Sriharikota on August 10, 1979.

The GSLV-F15’s payload fairing, measuring 3.4 meters in diameter, successfully placed the NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. This satellite is part of the second generation of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, India’s own navigation network, with four operational satellites currently in orbit.

Narayanan also mentioned that ISRO has received approval for three additional satellites and has several projects lined up for this year, including Chandrayaan 3 and 4.

He highlighted the upcoming Kulasekarapattinam launch pad in Tamil Nadu, which is being developed to launch small satellites like microsatellites and nanosatellites. “All facilities at the Kulasekarapattinam launch pad will be completed within two years, enabling us to launch a variety of missions from there,” he added.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh praised ISRO’s historic achievement on social media, stating, “Congratulations @isro for achieving the landmark milestone of #100thLaunch from #Sriharikota.” He reflected on the journey from the early days with pioneers like Vikram Sarabhai and Satish Dhawan to the current advancements in the space sector.

Minister Nitin Gadkari described the milestone as “a giant leap for India in space exploration,” noting that the 100th launch strengthens India’s NavIC navigation system and showcases ISRO’s commitment to innovation and excellence in space technology.