• ISRO will launch three new satellites—NVS-03, NVS-04, and NVS-05—by 2026 to restore full functionality to India’s regional navigation system, NavIC.

• Only four of the original IRNSS satellites remain operational, prompting efforts to reduce reliance on foreign systems and strengthen national navigation infrastructure.

• India and the U.S. will launch the jointly developed NISAR Earth observation satellite on July 30, offering open-access data for climate, agriculture, and disaster management worldwide.

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PRESS RELEASE — India is taking steps to strengthen its satellite infrastructure on two fronts: expanding its indigenous navigation satellite system and launching a major Earth observation mission in collaboration with the United States.

According to a recent post from Indian Express, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch three additional satellites for its Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) by 2026. The first of these, NVS-03, is slated for launch by the end of this year, with NVS-04 and NVS-05 to follow at six-month intervals. The announcement was made in a written response to Parliament by Union Minister of State for Space Dr. Jitendra Singh.

IRNSS, also known operationally as NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), was originally envisioned as a seven-satellite constellation providing navigation coverage over India and a 1,500 km radius around it. While 11 satellites have been launched to date, only four are currently operational. Two satellites failed to reach their intended orbits, and one, NVS-02, launched in January during ISRO’s 100th mission, suffered a technical malfunction during orbit-raising and could not be placed in its designated slot.

The new batch of satellites will help restore full functionality to the NavIC system, which provides regional positioning services similar to GPS and Galileo but tailored for Indian strategic and civilian use. The move comes amid broader efforts to reduce reliance on foreign navigation systems and enhance resilience for national security, transportation, and disaster response.

Meanwhile, India is also preparing for the upcoming launch of the NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) mission, scheduled for July 30 at 17:40 IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. As reported by DD News, this joint initiative between NASA and ISRO is a milestone in international Earth observation cooperation and space technology transfer.

NISAR is the first Earth observation satellite co-developed by the two agencies, with a combined investment exceeding $1.5 billion. The 2,392-kg satellite will be deployed into a sun-synchronous orbit aboard the GSLV-F16 rocket—the first time India’s GSLV has been used for this orbital configuration. The satellite’s payload includes dual-frequency synthetic aperture radars: an L-band SAR supplied by NASA and an S-band SAR developed by ISRO, mounted on a 12-meter deployable antenna.

The mission will provide global revisit data every 12 days, enabling frequent observation of Earth’s land and ice surfaces. With an open-data policy, NISAR will make its data publicly available within 24 to 48 hours, and in near-real time during emergencies. This capability is expected to support applications in climate monitoring, agriculture, and disaster management across both developed and developing countries.

Describing the launch as a “defining moment in India-US space cooperation,” Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized the broader impact of the mission. “NISAR will not only serve India and the United States but will also provide critical data for countries around the world,” he stated. The initiative is seen as a tangible example of India’s growing participation in global science efforts and its evolving role as a technology partner to the international community.

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• NASA’s radar antenna reflector for the NISAR satellite, a key part of a joint mission with the Indian Space Research Organisation, is almost ready.
• The drum-shaped reflector is about 39 feet (12 meters) across and will help the NISAR satellite send and receive microwave signals from Earth’s surface. NISAR will scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, gathering important science data.
• After testing, NASA will move the reflector to an ISRO facility in Bengaluru, India. There, teams from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and ISRO will reintegrate it with the radar system.

According to a recent blog post, NASA’s radar antenna reflector for the NISAR satellite, a key part of a joint mission with the Indian Space Research Organisation, is almost ready and is being tested in California.

The drum-shaped reflector is about 39 feet (12 meters) across and will help the NISAR satellite send and receive microwave signals from Earth’s surface. NISAR will scan nearly all of Earth’s land and ice surfaces twice every 12 days, gathering important science data.

In March, the reflector returned from India to a special facility in California. Reflective tape was applied, and other measures were taken to manage temperature changes that could affect the reflector’s deployment.

After testing, NASA will move the reflector to an ISRO facility in Bengaluru, India. There, teams from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and ISRO will reintegrate it with the radar system. During this time, ISRO and NASA will set a launch readiness date.

The NISAR launch window from early October 2024 to early February 2025 is no longer possible. During this time, alternating sunlight and shadows could cause temperature changes that might impact the deployment of the boom and radar antenna reflector.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Nelson’s trip, which was to include meetings in the United Arab Emirates, focused on reviewing the progress of joint space projects between India and the United States, including the ambitious NISAR mission. NISAR, the first spacecraft in NASA’s Earth Observatory System being jointly developed by NASA and ISRO, represents a pivotal collaboration in space technology. This visit underscored the growing importance of India in the global space arena and highlighted the potential for further advancements and cooperative efforts in space exploration and technology.

India’s space technology sector, particularly among startups, has experienced a remarkable surge in investment and development in recent years. Between 2010 and 2019, Indian space tech startups collectively raised US $35 million in funding, a figure that increased to US $28 million in 2020 alone. This upward trajectory continued with $96 million in 2021 and an impressive US $112 million in 2022, as reported by Tracxn, a provider of intelligence on private markets. By August of this year, the sector had already attracted US $62 million in funding.

These startups are not just accumulating capital but are also at the forefront of innovation, working on diverse technologies ranging from hyperspectral imaging and 3D-printed rocket engines to satellite propulsion systems and the development of sustainable, less toxic rocket fuels. This growth in the Indian space tech industry underscores the country’s burgeoning potential and capability in the global space technology arena.

Featured image: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson gives remarks after Indian Ambassador to the United States Taranjit Sandhu signed the Artemis Accords, Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at the Willard InterContinental Hotel in Washington.
Credit: NASA / Bill Ingalls