Tue Dec 31 01:03:16 UTC 2024: ## ISRO’s 100th Launch From Sriharikota Imminent After Successful Space Docking Experiment
**Sriharikota, India (December 31, 2024)** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the cusp 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 announcement follows the successful completion of the PSLV-C60 mission on December 30th, which marked the 99th launch from the space center. The mission successfully deployed two spacecraft for a Space Docking Experiment (SpaDeX) into a circular orbit. Somanath expressed his hope for many more SpaDeX missions in the future, highlighting the significance of the experiment in light of India’s expanding space program.
The January 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.
The PSLV-C60 launch was briefly rescheduled from its original time to avoid a close encounter with another satellite already in orbit, showcasing ISRO’s meticulous planning and safety protocols. Somanath explained that scientists conducted a conjunction study to ensure safe orbital maneuvers.
First Piper 