India successfully launched the fourth of the seven Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) satellites on Saturday using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C27). This means the country's answer to the American GPS and Russia's Glonass will be ready for tests by next month, as four is the minimum number of satellites needed for the system to go functional. The system, with applications in terrestrial and aerial navigation, disaster management, mapping and surveillance will be fully operational by next year, after three more satellites are launched.
PSLV-C27 lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5.19 pm and placed the 1,425 kg IRNSS-1D in orbit with precision. Once in the preliminary orbit, the satellite deployed its two solar panels in quick succession and started beaming signals.
It was Isro's first rocket launch under its new chairman A S Kiran Kumar.
It was a textbook launch as all the four stages went as planned. The first stage of the rocket successfully separated 130 seconds after the lift-off and the second stage ignited as planned. At 262 seconds, the second stage of the rocket burned out as planned and soon the third stage was ignited.The fourth stage also performed as expected and 19 minutes and 25 seconds after lift-off, the satellite was ejected.
The Master Control Facility at Hassan took control of the satellite and performed the orbit raising manoeuvres. The liquid apogee motor of the satellite will be fired sequentially to attain a circular geostationary orbit.
IRNSS will have civilian and military applications. With a 1,500 km range, it will make India self-reliant on surveillance from outer space, covering the Asian region. It will be utilized for two services -standard positioning service (SPS) extended to all users and restricted service (RS) which will be encrypted.
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