Countdown begins for GSLV-F18/NVS-03 NavIC mission tonight

Chennai, Oct 30 (UNI) The 24 hour countdown for late tonight's key GSLV-F18/NVS-03 NavIC mission commenced at 2351 hrs on Thursday night. "The 24 hr countdown for the launch has commenced and is progressing smoothly", ISRO sources told UNI on Friday morning. During the countdown propellant filling operations are being carried out in the three-stage 50 m tall vehicle having a lift-off mass of 420 tonnes. In a significant mission aimed at giving a further push to opertionalise the NavIC constellation to strengthen the defence needs, the GSLV-F18 carrying the 2,250 kg NVS-03 Navigation satellite will be launched from the…