India is all set to launch the first mission of 2025. ISRO is gearing up to launch the NVS-02 satellite on January 29, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Developed by the U R Satellite Centre (URSC), NVS-02 is part of India's Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system.

The regional satellite navigation system, designed to provide accurate positioning, velocity and timing for users in India and up to 1,500 km beyond its borders. The satellite will be launched aboard the GSLV rocket which will mark the launch vehicle's 17th flight.

According to ISRO, NavIC offers two services. First is the Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for general public use, which gives location accuracy within 20 meters and timing accuracy better than 40 nanoseconds and the Restricted Service (RS) for authorised users with enhanced security.

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The NVS-02 satellite introduces advanced features, including compatibility with the L1 band, which makes NavIC more usable for various devices. It operates on three frequency bands (L1, L5, and S) for high accuracy and includes a Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard (RAFS) for precise timekeeping.

This satellite will improve NavIC's utility for applications like precision agriculture, emergency services, fleet management and mobile device location services. NVS-02 is one of five second-generation satellites planned to bolster the NavIC constellation, ensuring continuous and enhanced navigation services.

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(Image: ISRO)