ISRO successfully launched IRNSS 1C on board ISRO’s PSLV C26 rocket from the spaceport moving a step closer to setting up the country’s own navigation system on par with Global Positioning System (GPS) of the US.
The satellite is the third of the series of seven satellites ISRO is planing to launch to put in place what is called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. It will be placed into a sub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (sub GTO) 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.
IRNSS is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area.
IRNSS’s applications include:
- Terrestrial and marine navigation
- Disaster management
- Vehicle tracking
- Fleet management
- Navigation aide for hikers and travellers
- visual and voice navigation for drivers.
Few 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 the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.
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