ISRO successfully launches 7th navigation satellite IRNSS-1G

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched India’s 7th navigation satellite IRNSS 1G of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
The satellite was launched into a Sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (Sub-GTO) on-board of Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C-33 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
IRNSS 1G satellite is last space segment satellites of the IRNSS system. With this India joins elite group of selected nations that have their own GPS (Global Positioning System) or navigation system.
Note: IRNSS system is similar to other satellite navigation systems like US’s GPS , Russia’s Glonass, Japan’s Quasi Zenith, Europe’s Galileo and China’s Beidou.

About IRNSS 1G

• IRNSS 1G satellite has a lift-off mass of 1425 kg.
• Its configuration is the same as IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F.
• Payloads: It equipped with two types of payloads viz. navigation payload and ranging devices.
• The navigation payload will be mainly used to transmit navigation service signals to the users.
• The ranging payload consists of a C-band transponder that will facilitate accurate determination of the range of the satellite.

About IRNSS System

• IRNSS System consists of constellation of seven satellites of which three are geostationary and four are non-geostationary.
• Four Geosynchronous satellites: They will be orbiting in pairs in two inclined geosynchronous orbits.
• When observed from the ground, these 2 pairs of satellites will appear to travel in figures of ‘8’.
• Three Geostationary satellites: They will be placed in the geostationary orbit over the equator.
• They match the Earth’s rotation and shall remain at a fixed position in the sky.
• Services: This satellite system aims to provide real-time accurate position information of objects to users across the country and the region, extending up to an area of 1,500 km.
• It would provide two types of 24/7 standard services (i) Restricted Service (RS): an encrypted service provided to authorised users. It will be used for military and missile-related applications. (ii) Standard Positioning Service (SPS): to all users.
• Applications: (i) Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation (ii) Disaster Management (iii) Vehicle tracking and fleet management (iv) Integration with mobile phones (v) Precise Timing (vi) Mapping and Geodetic data capture (vii) Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers (viii) Visual and voice navigation for drivers.

Earlier the six satellites of the series namely IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E and 1F were launched in July 2013, April 2014, October 2014, March 2015, January 2016 and March 2016 respectively. It will become operational after checking the systems-space (satellites), ground (ground stations) and the user end signal receivers.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2016