Wed Jan 29 13:12:14 UTC 2025: ## ISRO Achieves Milestone: 100th Rocket Launch Successfully Places Navigation Satellite in Orbit

**Bengaluru, India** – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked a historic milestone on Wednesday with the successful launch of its 100th rocket. The GSLV-F15 rocket successfully deployed the NVS-02 navigation satellite into orbit, signifying six decades of advancements in India’s space program.

ISRO Chairman Dr. V Narayanan paid tribute to the pioneers of the Indian space program, including Vikram Sarabhai, Satish Dhawan, and APJ Abdul Kalam, acknowledging their contributions to the agency’s success. He expressed gratitude to past and present ISRO employees and their families.

Since its inception in 1969, ISRO has developed six generations of launch vehicles, four of which are currently operational. The agency’s workhorse, the PSLV rocket, has completed 62 missions, and the heavier LVM3, used for Chandrayaan-2 and -3 missions, has had seven successful launches. ISRO is also developing the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), capable of carrying up to 30,000 kg to low earth orbit, and a new launchpad to support this ambitious project.

The 100 launches have placed a total of 548 satellites, weighing 120 tonnes, into orbit, including 433 foreign satellites. ISRO’s achievements extend beyond launches, encompassing significant scientific missions like Chandrayaan, Mars Orbiter Mission, and Aditya L1.

NVS-02 is one of five new satellites for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (NavIC), offering improved accuracy and coverage across India and surrounding regions. The inclusion of the L1 frequency enhances compatibility with global positioning systems.

ISRO’s future plans include a lunar sample return mission, a Venus mission, the establishment of an Indian space station, and a crewed lunar mission. The agency’s continued growth and innovation solidify India’s position as a leading player in global space exploration.

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