Saturday, March 28, 2015

ISRO ready to launch 4th of 7 IRNSS satellite





ISRO ready to launch 4th of the planned 7 IRNSS satellite


The IRNSS 1D Satellite

       Navigation and Guidance is the most important aspects in the modern world which is being used for both civilian and military purpose. American navigations systems are believed to be one of the most advanced navigation systems in use. Navigational systems used by smart phones, GPS devices and various other navigational systems are provided by these navigational satellites. In military field the use of navigational systems is huge, the usage of these navigational systems has been put in to use extensively in the state of the art GPS guided bombs. The current systems used by India are the property of American Space Agencies and is also provided to and controlled by American agencies. The navigational systems can be used for creating an image of the worldwide networks of Sea, Deserts and high mountains. In possible scenario of America turning down the host of services linked to their satellites to India the loss is unimaginable. As a backup plan India had selected the GLONASS system designed and handled by the Russian Space Agencies. The run up costs in procuring a second standby plan and at the same time running a primary system was huge and the need for an indigenously developed system was felt time and again. With the military making repeated requests to develop the system, so that the control of this crucial field would stay with Indian agencies, GoI awarded the project to the prestigious Space agency of India Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). 


Charged with developing this crucial project, ISRO was allotted a monetary support of $250 millions to power up India’s dream project. ISRO termed the project as IRNSS ( Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System).The IRNSS would provide two services, with the Standard Positioning Service open for civilian use and the Restricted Service, an encrypted one, for authorized users and the Military parties. IRNSS would have seven satellites for a dedicated GPS service. To effectively rely with the satellites ISRO opened a dedicated control facility for IRNSS at Bangalore on 1st May 2103. The station would control and communicate with the satellites in association with 21 other sub stations placed across India.  Of the planned seven satellites ISRO has already launched three satellites and have been placed in well designated orbits. The fourth satellite, INRSS1D is scheduled to be launched from SHAR today. The launch of all the seven satellites under the program is scheduled to be completed by 2016 and the system to be operational by late 2016.

Three of the first satellites launched under the program have been placed in a geostationary orbit and are located at 32.5° east, 83° east, and 131.5° East long latitude. Placed in an orbit the two Geosynchronous orbit will cross the equator at 55° East and two at 111.75° East. This arrangement would guarantee that all satellites will enjoy a radio visibility with the ground stations without any hitch. The navigation signals from the satellites will be generated by using atomic clocks and electronic equipment integrated to satellites. The satellites weigh about 1,330 kg and are powered by solar panels generating an approximate output of about 1400 watts. The accuracy of the system is believed to be around 10 meters across the Indian land mass and around 20 meters across the IOR. The system can be put to use for about 1500 kilometres outside Indian landmass.    





 

IRNSS-1A was the first navigational satellite to be launched under the IRNSS project out of the planned seven satellites. IRNSS-1A was launched on board the PSLV C22 on 1st July 2013 from India’s spaceport, Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota. ISRO planned to place the seven satellites with a gap of about six months between each satellite launch. IRNSS-1B was the second satellite to be launched under the program on 4th April 2014 on board the PSLV C24 mission. The third satellite under the program IRNSS- 1C was launched onboard PSLV C26 on 16th October 2014. At around 17:00 Hrs today ISRO is all set to launch the IRNSS- 1D the fourth satellite under the program from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Our team wishes ISRO the best for the mission. General public can watch the launch live on DD National and on WebTv service provided by ISRO. Cheers to ISRO and IRNSS teams.  

Editor - Karthik Kakoor

The IRNSS 1D inside the PSLV C 27 Rocket
Final preparation of Launching the PSLV C 27 with 1.5 ton IRNSS 1D Satellite


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