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In its 35th flight (PSLV-C33), ISRO's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) successfully launched the 1,425 kg IRNSS-1G, the seventh satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) on Thursday afternoon from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
This is the 34 consecutively successful mission of PSLV and the 13 in its 'XL' configuration.
After PSLV-C33 lift-off at 1250 hours (12:50 pm) IST from the first launchpad with the ignition of the first stage, the subsequent important flight events, namely, strap-on ignitions and separations, first stage separation, second stage ignition, heat-shield separation, second stage separation, third stage ignition and separation, fourth stage ignition and satellite injection, took place as planned.
After a flight of 19 minutes 42 seconds, IRNSS-1G was injected into an elliptical orbit of 283 km X 20,718 km inclined at an angle of 17.867 degree to the equator (very close to the intended orbit) following which the satellite successfully separated from the PSLV fourth stage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, congratulated all the ISRO scientists and team ISRO for completing IRNSS constellation and dedicated IRNSS to the nation as ‘NavIC’ (Navigation Indian Constellation).
He appreciated India’s space community for making the country proud through such achievements which have helped in improving the life of common man.
PTI adds
The IRNSS comprising the seven satellites will offer services with much ‘better accuracy’ and targeted position in navigation on par with the Global Positioning System of the United States.
ISRO had launched and operationalised other six satellites — IRNSS-1F on March 10, 2016, IRNSS-1E (January 20, 2016), IRNSS-1D (March 28, 2015), IRNSS-1C (October 16, 2014), IRNSS-1B (April 4, 2014) and IRNSS-1A on July 1, 2013.
According to ISRO officials, the total cost of all the seven satellites was Rs 1,420 crore.
For today’s mission, ISRO used the PSLV-XL variant which has six solid strap-on motors to augment the thrust provided by the first stage, making the rocket powerful.
The XL variant was used during the launch of Mars Orbiter Mission, Chandrayaan-1, ASTROSAT besides the six earlier IRNSS satellites.
IRNSS-1G which has a 12-year mission life would become operational in about a month’s time, marking the full-fledged functioning of the IRNSS.
With the operations of six satellites, so far, India demonstrated a targeted position of accuracy much better than 20 metres above earth and round-the-clock.
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