BENGALURU: Two crucial satellites, NVS-03 and Gisat-1A, have been waiting at India’s spaceport in Sriharikota for several weeks, pending government approval for their launch. Also in limbo is a GSLV-Mk2 rocket, which had its propellant filling halted midway due to the lack of launch clearance, according to multiple sources.
This delay is taking place while the government has yet to publicly release detailed findings on the failures experienced during two PSLV missions on May 18, 2025, and January 12, 2026, which have significantly hampered India’s satellite launch schedule across various vehicle families.
Sources indicate that NVS-03 is the upcoming satellite for India’s second-generation NavIC navigation constellation, while GISAT-1A, also known as EOS-05, is an advanced geo-imaging satellite designed for near real-time surveillance of the Indian subcontinent. Both satellites have reportedly completed the majority of their pre-launch preparations and are ready for liftoff.
Current Situation of GSLV-Mk2
The GSLV-Mk2 rocket stationed at the spaceport was earmarked for one of these missions (either NVS-03 or Gisat-1A). This pause in launches follows a challenging year for the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro). The PSLV-C62 mission failed on January 12, unable to place its payloads into orbit due to a disruption in the third stage (PS3).
Prior to that, PSLV-C61 had a similar fate, attributed to a reported “pressure drop in PS3.” Despite these setbacks, detailed failure reports have not been released by the Department of Space (DoS) or the government.
Official Statements and Internal Concerns
Union Minister Jitendra Singh mentioned in Bengaluru that the failure analysis committee responsible for the PSLV-C62 mission has identified the cause of the anomaly, but the findings “cannot be disclosed publicly.”
This cautious approach has caused confusion among officials in the Department of Space, currently dealing with low morale. Insiders state that no launches have been approved while the government assesses the situation.
A source remarked, “The issues pinpointed so far are specific to the PSLV’s third stage and do not directly impact the GSLV or LVM-3,” adding that it seems unreasonable to halt other rocket operations due to PSLV troubles.
Significance of the Satellites
This delay is particularly noteworthy as both satellites hold significant strategic value. NVS-03 aims to restore the previously failed NavIC navigation constellation. The government acknowledged last week that with only three operational satellites, the NavIC program is currently unable to provide adequate navigation services.
Gisat-1A also represents a revival of a mission that has faced numerous delays. The original Gisat-1, which was intended to be India’s inaugural geostationary Earth observation satellite, was first postponed in 2020 and subsequently lost during the GSLV-F10 launch in August 2021 due to a failure in the cryogenic upper stage.
The replacement satellite is anticipated to facilitate near real-time imaging for disaster management, agriculture, forestry, environmental monitoring, and national security.
Previous Setbacks and Future Prospects
The government’s cautious stance is a response to past setbacks, notably the inquiry into the January 2025 NVS-02 anomaly. In February, Isro released partial findings stating that the spacecraft failed to reach its desired orbit because the drive signal did not reach the pyro valve in the oxidiser line during orbit-raising maneuvers.
The agency has claimed that corrective measures have since been successfully implemented and validated during the CMS-03 mission, which was launched aboard LVM-3 in November 2025. However, even with hardware, satellites, and launch vehicles prepared at the spaceport, the future of India’s satellite launches remains unclear, with no indication of when the government will permit resumption of launches.
