pslv-c22

The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) has launched the first Indian regional navigation satellite system (IRNSS) today from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

This launch, which was designated as flight number C22, marks the 23rd consecutively successful mission of PSLV.

The mission was carried out on PSLV-XL configuration, which was earlier used to launch Chandrayaan-1, GSAT-12 and RISAT-1 satellites.

The PSLV-C22 lifted off from the first launch-pad at 11.41pm IST yesterday with the firing of the first stage and four strap-on motors of the launch vehicle.

The flight events including stage and strap-on ignitions, heat-shield separation, stage and strap-on separations and satellite injection were successfully carried out as planned.

After a flight of 20 minutes 17 seconds, the IRNSS-1A Satellite was placed into the intended elliptical orbit of 282.46km x 20,625.37km and the solar panels were deployed automatically.

"The launch marks the 23rd consecutively successful mission of PSLV."

Weighing 3141lb, IRNSS-1A is the first of the seven satellites in the space segment of the IRNSS, an independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide position information in the Indian region and 1,500km around the Indian mainland.

IRNSS will provide two types of service, with standard positioning services (SPS), which will be provided to all users, and restricted services (RS) that will be provided to authorised users only.

ISRO Master Control Facility at Hassan, Karnataka, assumed control of the satellite, and over the coming days, five orbit manoeuvres will be conducted from the facility in order to position it in its geosynchronous circular orbit at 55°E longitude.

The overall IRNSS constellation of seven satellites is expected to be complete by 2015-2016.

A number of ground stations, which will be responsible for the generation and transmission of navigation parameters, satellite control, satellite ranging and monitoring, have been established in more than 15 locations across the country.

Image: ISRO’s PSLV-C22 lifted off from the first launchpad at 11.41pm IST on 1 July. Photo: courtesy of ISRO.

Defence Technology