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'One Nation, One Time': Why Isro is sending atomic clocks into space

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is scheduled to launch its NVS-03 satellite aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Marking the 20th flight of the GSLV, the mission carries an indigenously developed Rubidium atomic clock alongside procured atomic clocks to bolster India's satellite navigation capabilities and time sovereignty. The satellite is designed to replace and extend the older satellites of NavIC, an indigenous regional navigation system providing positio…

Key points

  • Incorporating civilian L1 signals alongside the existing L5 and S bands allows the NavIC…: Incorporating civilian L1 signals alongside the existing L5 and S bands allows the NavIC constellation to interface directly with consumer smartphones.
  • Precise orbital timekeeping underpins the government's One Nation, One Time initiative to…: Precise orbital timekeeping underpins the government's One Nation, One Time initiative to establish a legally recognized reference standard for domestic systems.
  • Synchronized Indian Standard Time helps safeguard national critical infrastructure, inclu…: Synchronized Indian Standard Time helps safeguard national critical infrastructure, including data centers, financial transaction networks, and transportation grids.

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The

Indian Space Research Organisation (

Isro) is scheduled to launch its NVS-03 satellite aboard the GSLV-F18 rocket on Friday night, carrying another indigenous atomic clock into space to strengthen India's satellite navigation capabilities and time sovereignty.

The launch is scheduled for 11.51 pm from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC SHAR), Sriharikota. The mission will mark the 20th flight of India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-F18 and place the third indigenous atomic clock in space as part of the country's next-generation navigation satellite programme.

NVS-03 mission carries multiple atomic clocks, featuring one indigenously developed Rubidium atomic clock alongside a set of procured atomic clocks.

The satellite is part of India's efforts to ensure continuity and strenghtening of navigation services under the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), now known as

NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation).

Regional navigation satellite system

The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), now NavIC, is an indigenous regional navigation satellite system being developed to provide accurate position information services to users in India and a region extending up to 1,500…

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