NVS series satellites
Also called: NVS-01, NVS-02 · Topic: Remote Sensing, GIS and GNSS · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
NVS series satellites are the second generation of satellites for NavIC, India's regional navigation system. They carry an indigenous rubidium atomic clock, made in India. This matters because atomic clocks failed on some early NavIC satellites, and exact timing is the heart of navigation. They also send an L1 signal, a frequency that ordinary phones can pick up, so NavIC can be used more widely.
Example
NVS-01 launched in May 2023 as the first of the series. NVS-02, launched in January 2025, failed to reach its planned orbit because of a valve fault. This was a setback for keeping the NavIC constellation complete.
Don't confuse with
- IRNSS-1 series: these were the first-generation NavIC satellites, such as IRNSS-1A (2013). Several had atomic clock failures. The NVS series replaces them with home-made clocks and a phone-friendly signal.
Related concepts
- Global navigation satellite system
- Global Positioning System
- Trilateration
- NavIC
- GAGAN
- Continuously Operating Reference Stations