Tue Dec 31 03:15:35 UTC 2024: ## ISRO’s 100th Launch Imminent: Successful Space Docking Experiment Paves the Way
**Sriharikota, December 31, 2024** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the verge of a major milestone. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath announced that the upcoming Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) mission in January will mark the 100th launch from the Sriharikota spaceport. This follows the successful completion of the PSLV-C60 mission on December 30th, which deployed two spacecraft for a Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX).
The SpaDeX mission, the 99th launch from Sriharikota, successfully placed the spacecraft into a circular orbit. Mr. Somanath expressed his hope that this would be the first of many such docking experiments. He highlighted the significance of the mission within the context of India’s expanding space program and ongoing reforms in the sector. Future SpaDeX missions, including more complex docking systems, are planned.
The upcoming GSLV mission will launch the navigation satellite NVS-02. This follows the successful deployment of NVS-01 in May 2023, the first of a new generation of satellites for the NavIC navigation system.
Mr. Somanath also explained that the slight delay in the PSLV-C60 launch from its initially scheduled time was a precautionary measure to ensure sufficient distance between the newly launched satellite and other existing satellites in its orbit, a standard procedure to avoid potential collisions.
First Piper 