The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has successfully launched a navigation satellite using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota at Kolkata. This navigation satellite will work as a replacement of Global Positioning Service (GPS), with India’s own version which will help Indian armed forces in precision guidance.
Deviprasad Karnik, Director, Publication and Public Relation, ISRO said “We will have our own position determination system using our own navigation constellation, the IRNSS series which will be operational by middle of next year. It is a kind of replacement GPS.”
The US is offering GPS navigation. IRSNN is indigenous” added Deviprasad while talking to media after the lecture on India’s Space mission and use of Space technology as a sustainable challenge, organized at Birla Industrial and Technological Museum in Kolkata.
During the lecture Deviprasad added that “Four of the Seven satellites in IRNSS constellation (IRNSS – 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D) are in orbit. Remaining three satellites (IRNSS – 1E, 1F and 1G) are targeted for launch during January 2016 and March 2016.”
Going further in his lecture he added “Once the constellation is completed, we need some time to establish the accuracy part, validation and other things. The advantage is that the navigation range has been designed to span around 1,500 km radius around India.”
“GPS is not available at all places. Signal is weak in remote areas but our own signal will be available in remote areas with better accuracy.”
“Monitoring and effective management of a fleet of trucks or ship monitoring will be done through spacecraft. For example, for ships the system can inform which route will be more effective. That will save time and fuel,” he said.
