Isro places navigation satellite into orbit

This is the fifth satellite of the India Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Wednesday launched the PSLV-C31 rocket carrying the fifth satellite of India Regional Navigation Satellite System, IRNSS-1E, into the orbit. With this, India is closer to having its own global positioning system (GPS). A S Kiran Kumar, chairman of Isro, said: “With this satellite in place, we will be able to get 24/7 positional accuracy. We have got two more satellites to be launched in this constellation, which would happen in the next couple of months.”

As scheduled, the rocket, PSLV-C31, blasted off from the second launch pad of the Sriharikotta space centre at 9.31am on Wednesday. The life span of the satellite is 12 years.

This was the first rocket launch in 2016. IRNSS-1E is the fifth navigation satellite in the IRNSS series, which comprises seven satellites.

The four regional navigational satellites that have already been launched are IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C and ID.

Once the constellation of all seven satellites is in place, it will provide accurate position information service to users across the country as well as the region, extending up to 1,500 km. Mission director B Jayakumar said, “Isro starts the New Year with a grand success. IRNSS-1E has been injected precisely into the intended orbit. We have employed the most powerful vehicle for this launch. With this launch, we have completed 33 launches in PSLV (polar satellite launch vehicle).”

The constellation of seven satellites is planned to be completed this year itself.

The full system comprises nine satellites — seven in orbit and two on the ground as stand-by, said Isro.

Each satellite costs around Rs 150 crore and the PSLV-XL version rocket costs around Rs 130 crore. The seven rockets would involve an outlay of Rs 910 crore.

The first satellite, IRNSS-1A, was launched in July 2013; the second in April 2014; the third in October 2014 and the fourth was launched in March 2015.

Once the regional navigation system is in place, India need not depend on other platforms for GPS services.

According to Isro, IRNSS-1E carries two types of payloads – navigation and ranging payloads.

The navigation payload of IRNSS-1E will transmit navigation service signals to users. This payload will operate in L5-band and S-band.

Isro said a highly accurate rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite. The ranging payload of IRNSS-1E consists of a C-band transponder (automatic receivers and transmitters of radio signals), which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.

IRNSS-1E also carries corner cube retro reflectors for laser ranging.