ISRO launced navigation satellite IRNSS-1H

The Indian Space Research Organisation launched its eighth navigation satellite IRNSS-1H at 7:00 PM IST on 31 August 2017 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The new satellite was built by a consortium led by Alpha Design Technologies, a defence equipment supplier from Bengaluru, over eight months. A team of 70 scientists from space research organization ISRO had supervised the entire process.

The satellite will replace one of NAVIC's seven satellites that is malfunctioning. The 1425 kg IRNSS - 1H satellite will lift off on the back of PSLV, India's workhorse that will be on its 41st flight.

The Indian space agency has conducted 150 missions over the last three decades, staring with Aryabhatta in 1975. But with India setting its sight on becoming one of the key suppliers of commercial satellites, it was decided to rope in the private sector. In the future, it is the private sector which is expected to take the lead.

IRNSS-1H launch

1H will replace IRNSS-1A, the first satellite of the system, after its atomic clocks failed. The rubidium atomic clocks are important to provide exact locational data and every satellite has three such clocks. A total of 27 clocks were supplied by the same vendor.

This over 1400kg spacecraft is India’s first satellite built by the private sector and supervised by ISRO. A consortium led by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies built the satellite as 70 ISRO scientists supervised it.

PSLV rocket

The four stage/engine PSLV-C39 rocket, which will carry the satellite, is 44.4 metres tall and weighs 321 tonne at the lift-off stage.

The launch vehicle will use the ‘XL’ version of PSLV equipped with six strap-ons, each carrying 12 tons of propellant

Around 19 minutes and 25 seconds after the lift-off, the rocket will sling the satellite at an altitude of around 507km.

IRNSS-1H at clean room with one of its Solar Panels Deployed

What is a navigation satellite?

A satellite navigation is based on a network of satellites that transmit radio signals to determine the geospatial location of the receivers with high accuracy.

The satellite systems can be used for providing position, navigation or for tracking the position of something fitted with a receiver.

What is India’s navigation satellite system?

India’s Rs 1420-crore satellite system called the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System: Navigation with Indian Constellation (IRNSS: NavIC) consists of seven satellites in orbit but two others have been used as substitutes. One of the substitutes is the IRNSS-1H.

The main applications of NavIC are in:

1. Shipping: Merchant ships use them for navigation and also for disaster management on the high seas.

2. Road Transport: It is used for navigation on roads as well as helping operators track their consignments and for traffic management by government agencies.

3. Railways: NavIC is also used to track train movements and for estimating time of arrival and departure.

4. Resource Management: These satellites inform the geo-tagging and geo-fencing of objects that help entrepreneurs and governments track if there is movement of goods beyond designated boundaries.

5. Location Based Services: Navigational satellites are essential to operations like finding nearby restaurants, shops, hospitals and petrol pumps.

6. Time Synchronised Services: NavIc is also used in telecom operations, power grid operations, disaster management and atmospheric studies.