Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) GSLV-F18 rocket carrying the next-generation navigation satellite NVS-03 lifted off from Sriharikota late on Friday.
After a 24-hour countdown, the 50-metre-tall rocket lifted off at 11.51 pm from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, soaring into the night sky.
The three-stage rocket, with a lift-off mass of 420 tonnes, is tasked with deploying the approximately 2,232-kg NVS-03 satellite into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).
NVS-03 to strengthen India's navigation services
According to ISRO, NVS-03 is the third satellite in the next-generation navigation satellite system, designed to ensure continuity of services provided by the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
The satellite carries an indigenous atomic clock alongside procured atomic clocks. It also includes an L1 signal in addition to the existing L5 and S signals.
The system will provide coverage across India's landmass and a region extending 1,500 km beyond the country's geopolitical boundary, ISRO said.