GSLV-F18 success brings ISRO relief after tough 18 months

ISRO's successful GSLV-F18 launch, with the NVS-03 navigation satellite reported healthy, offers relief after 18 months shaped by two PSLV launch failures. It is only the agency's second successful launch of 2026. The satellite strengthens the NavIC system, but an editorial argues ISRO now needs more people and funds to raise its launch rate.