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Watch | ISRO shares onboard footage from 100th rocket launch: ‘A view like no other’

ISRO's 100th launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota marked a historic milestone for the country’s space program.

The GSLV-F15 launch from Sriharikota on Wednesday morning. (Photo: X/@isro)

India’s space ambitions soared to new heights on Wednesday as the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its 100th rocket mission, deploying the navigation satellite NVS-02 into orbit. The early morning launch from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota marked a historic milestone for the country’s space program.

The mission was powered by the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F15), which precisely injected the NVS-02 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This was ISRO’s first launch of the year and also the maiden mission under the leadership of its new chairman, V Narayanan.

Hours after the launch, ISRO shared a minute-long onboard video capturing the rocket’s ascent.

“A view like no other! Watch onboard footage from GSLV-F15 during the launch of NVS-02. India’s space programme continues to inspire!” ISRO wrote sharing a video of the launch.

A view like no other! Watch onboard footage from GSLV-F15 during the launch of NVS-02.

India’s space programme continues to inspire! #GSLV #NAVIC #ISRO pic.twitter.com/KrrO3xiH1s

— ISRO (@isro) January 29, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes to the space agency after the launch.

“Congratulations to ISRO on the historic 100th launch! This incredible milestone illustrates the vision, dedication and commitment of our scientists and engineers. With the private sector joining hands, India’s space journey will continue to attain new heights,” PM Modi wrote.

Congratulations to @isro on the historic 100th launch!

This incredible milestone illustrates the vision, dedication and commitment of our scientists and engineers.

With the private sector joining hands, India’s space journey will continue to attain new heights.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 29, 2025

The NVS-02 satellite is a crucial part of India’s independent regional navigation system, Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC). Designed to provide precise Position, Velocity, and Timing (PVT) services, NavIC caters to users across India and extends its coverage up to 1,500 km beyond the country’s borders.

NavIC offers two types of services—Standard Positioning Service (SPS) for general users and Restricted Service (RS) for strategic applications. It promises a position accuracy of better than 20 meters and a timing accuracy within 40 nanoseconds.

ISRO’s launches

ISRO’s journey to its 100th launch has been marked by remarkable achievements. The agency has successfully placed 548 satellites in orbit, with a total payload weight of 120 tonnes. This includes 433 foreign satellites, accounting for 23 tonnes, underscoring India’s role as a key player in the global space industry.

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ISRO has launched a wide range of satellites, including communication, earth observation, navigation, and experimental satellites. The space agency has also spearheaded scientific missions such as AstroSat, the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), Chandrayaan 1, 2, and 3, the space observatory XPoSat, and the solar mission Aditya L1.

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