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IRNSS-1D, which will provide navigation, tracking and mapping service and have a mission life of 10 years, is the fourth in the constellation of seven satellites. Photo: V. Ganesan -
While four satellites would be sufficient to start operations of the IRNSS system, the remaining three would make it more accurate and efficient. Photo shows the launch of IRNSS-1 onboard PSLV-C27 from Chennai, which is approx. 100 km from Sriharikota. Photo: S.R. Raghunathan. -
A.S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO (right) along with P. Kunhikrishnan (left), Mission Director, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C27), addressing newspersons after the successful launch of the rocket carrying the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS-1D) from Sriharikota. Photo: V. Ganesan
With this launch, the country is poised to operationalise the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
India on Saturday demonstrated its ability to establish an independent
regional navigation satellite system, as ISRO’s PSLV C-27 successfully
launched Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-D
satellite into the intended orbit.
“We will now be able to make use of our receivers to locate ourselves
independently,” ISRO Chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar said. This is the first
launch this year and the first under his chairmanship.
While the ambit of the U.S. GPS was global, the IRNSS was meant for
regional coverage, he said, replying to a query. “The globe comes later,
the country comes first.”
IRNSS 1-D is the fourth of the series of seven satellites, which would form ISRO’s IRNSS.
Busy launch season ahead for ISRO
The launch IRNSS 1-D, which was earlier scheduled for March 9, was
postponed following an anomaly in the telemetry systems. While four of
the seven satellites in the IRNSS will be in geosynchronous orbit, the
other three would be positioned in geo-stationary orbit, some 36,000 km
above the Earth.
The national space agency has lined up many launches before March next
year. A PSLV to launch a commercial satellite from the UK, two
navigation satellites, a GSAT series satellite and three satellites in
IRNSS series are among the planned launches. A reusable launch vehicle
would also be tested this year as a technology demonstrator. “The tests
on the reusable launch vehicle would be complete and in three months,
ISRO would be able to launch it,” ISRO chairman K.S. Kiran Kumar said.
ISRO has also installed a Multi-Object Tracking Radar at a cost of Rs.
245 crore for which the trials would be conducted soon. The radar is
capable of tracking 10 objects in real time simultaneously. Replying to
another query, Mr. Kumar said the Mars Orbiter has been sending data
from the red planet but said ascertaining whether methane was present
there would take some time as the data had to be studied thoroughly. The
configuration for a satellite for the use of SAARC countries as mooted
by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was being finalised and would be
launched in 18 months, the ISRO chairman said. “We are in the process of
discussing with other countries to finalise the configuration of the
SAARC satellite.”
Replying to a query, he said Cartosat satellites would be used to
monitor illegal mining in the country. “The Indian Bureau of Mines has
been given the task to draw the boundary lines for the mines,” V.K.
Dadhwal, Director of National Remote Sensing Centre said.
Attempting to reduce the mass of the satellites, ISRO was looking at the
possibility of having an ion propulsion system, K. Sivan Director of
Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre in Valiamala in Kerala, said. “We are
planning to test the proposed technology in a communication satellite,”
he said. As for the semi-cryogenic engine, which LPSC is working on, he
said the engine was tested for 20 seconds and the time duration would be
extended in future.
Curtsey with THE HINDU
