Sriharikota : Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C26) successfully injected the third navigation satellite (IRNSS-1C) into the intended orbit early Thursday (October 16, 2014).
IRNSS 1C is part of the series of seven satellites Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch to put in place what is called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. Today’s launch marked the first time that India has conducted four orbital launches in a year.
ISRO had aimed to launch the satellite into a sub-Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit with a 284 km perigee (nearest point to Earth) and 20,650 km apogee (farthest point to Earth) with an inclination of 17.86 degree with respect to the equatorial plane.
Present in the Mission Control Room was Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, who congratulated the scientists on the successful launch. I thank you for making me witness this historic moment. As India moves forward to become a world leader, I am sure in the 21 century, any leadership role should be based on scientific foundation and I am glad in the area of space we have emerged as world leaders,” he said.
While India is developing its navigation system, a select group of countries have their own navigation systems — Russia’s Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS), European Union’s Galileo (GNSS), China’s BeiDou Satellite Navigation System and Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.
The ISRO chairman also said GSLV Mark III, one of Indian Space Research Organisation’s biggest projects this year, which would test India’s ability to launch four plus ton payload, would be launched within the next 45 days. After GSLV Mark III launch, we have GSAT 16 launch from French Guyana, which will carry 48 transponders. Next is the launch of IRNSS 1D in December,” he added.
Bureau Report
Leave a Reply