India’s next-generation navigation and Earth observation satellite missions are awaiting final government approval despite completing most technical preparations, delaying two launches considered important for the country’s space and strategic capabilities.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has readied NVS-03, the latest satellite in India’s indigenous NavIC navigation constellation, and GISAT-1A (EOS-05), an advanced Earth observation satellite. Both missions are expected to fly aboard the GSLV Mk-II rocket but remain on hold pending administrative clearance.
The delay follows two failed Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) missions within a year. PSLV-C61, launched in May 2025, and PSLV-C62 in January 2026 both suffered anomalies linked to the rocket’s third stage. While ISRO has completed its investigations, the findings have not been made public. Union Minister of State for Space Jitendra Singh has said the cause of the latest failure has been identified, but the report cannot be released publicly.
Although the upcoming launches will use the technically different GSLV Mk-II, officials familiar with the programme say the government is carrying out a broader review of mission safety and reliability before authorising fresh launches.
The delay is particularly significant for India’s NavIC navigation programme. NVS-03 is part of the second-generation Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system, which provides indigenous positioning, navigation and timing services.
The mission has gained urgency after the government informed Parliament that the existing NavIC constellation no longer has enough operational satellites to independently provide positioning services. Only three satellites are currently delivering Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) services, while at least four are required for full standalone capability. Launching NVS-03 would move India closer to restoring the network’s operational strength.
The second satellite, GISAT-1A, is designed to provide near real-time Earth observation from geostationary orbit. Positioned nearly 36,000 km above Earth, it will continuously monitor the same region instead of capturing periodic images during orbital passes, enabling faster updates for disaster response, agriculture, environmental monitoring, glacier studies and ocean observation.
The satellite is also expected to enhance situational awareness by providing persistent coverage of strategically important regions. It replaces the original GISAT-1, which was lost during the GSLV-F10 mission in 2021 after a cryogenic upper-stage failure.
The postponement also slows ISRO’s launch cadence, with satellites, launch vehicles and mission teams reportedly ready but awaiting the government’s go-ahead.
Industry observers note that the concerns prompting the review stem from failures in the PSLV’s third stage, while the GSLV Mk-II uses a different propulsion architecture. As a result, many experts believe the two upcoming missions are technically independent of the earlier anomalies.
Once final approval is granted, ISRO is expected to move quickly, with both satellites having completed key pre-launch milestones. The eventual launch dates will depend on mission windows, weather conditions and range availability at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.