ISRO, the Indian Space Research Organisation has declared the 43rd mission of its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV ) a grand success. PSLV carrying the IRNSS-1I satellite blasted off into space from Sriharikota off the coast of Andhra Pradesh at 4:04 am today( April 12, 2018). The satellite was successfully placed into a precise orbit. This is the eighth satellite for India’s homegrown global positioning system (GPS).

Just 14 days back, ISRO had faced a setback. This occurred when ISRO failed to place a Rs. 270 crore GSAT 6A satellite into orbit, launched vide much larger rocket GSLV( Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle). Thus, the success of the present mission has become a huge relief for ISRO, which is widely acknowledged as highly successful and cost effective in placing satellite into their orbits.

IRNSS-1I, NAVIC Constellation and India’s own GPS

IRNSS stands for The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System . It is known by the operational name of NAVIC, which is the acronym for “Navigation with Indian Constellation”. IRNSS-1I satellite weighs 1,425-kg. It was made by Alpha Design Technologies, a Bangalore based company in collaboration with ISRO.

NAVIC system will be the Indian equivalent for the GPS owned by the US. The satellite was launched into the NAVIC constellation. This NAVIC constellation is expected to create history as India will have its own global positioning system. Seven operational satellites were needed in NAVIC constellation for India to have a failsafe satellite based navigation.

The first satellite in the NAVIC network, IRNSS 1A, failed to last for the period it was expected to be on service as the atomic clocks on the satellite failed one after another. on August 31,2017 ISRO launched a replacement satellite – IRNSS 1H, but the rocket failed and could not place the satellite into orbit. This was the reason for launch of IRNSS 1I as a replacement.

India becomes the third country to have own GPS

India is the third country after the US and Russia to have own operational GPS. China and Europe are yet to deploy their systems. A satellite based navigation system is an excellent strategic asset.

The need of having own GPS was felt immediately after the Kargil war with Pakistan. Though it needed the service of GPS, it did not have a network to rely on. The NAVIC system is expected to provide location tracking within 20 meters of actual positions. The service will be highly useful in the 1,500 km area around the country’s borders. Threat perception on the border has gone up recently. Apart from this location tracking, the satellite will be useful in both civilian and military services.