Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System
Country/ies of origin | India |
---|---|
Operator(s) | ISRO |
Type | Military, Commercial |
Status | Operational |
Coverage | Regional |
Accuracy | 10-20 metres |
Constellation size | |
Nominal satellites | 7 |
Current usable satellites | 7 |
First launch | 1 July 2013 |
Last launch | 28 April 2016 12:50 PM IST |
Total launches | 7 (All Success) |
Orbital characteristics | |
Regime(s) | High Earth |
Orbital height | 36,000 km (22,000 mi)[1] |
Other details | |
Cost | $212 million |
Geodesy |
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The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System or IRNSS with an operational name of NAVIC (Sailor or Navigator in Hindi) stands for Navigation with Indian Constellation[2] is an Indian developed Navigation Satellite System that is used to provide accurate real-time positioning and timing services over India and region extending to 1500 km around India. The fully deployed NAVIC system consists of 3 satellites in GEO orbit and 4 satellites in GSO orbit, approximately 36,000 km altitude above earth surface.[1][3] However, the full system comprises nine satellites, including two on the ground as stand-by.[4] The requirement of such a navigation system is driven because access to foreign government-controlled global navigation satellite systems is not guaranteed in hostile situations, as happened to the Indian military depending on American GPS during the Kargil War.[5] The NAVIC would provide two services, with the Standard Positioning Service open for civilian use, and the Restricted Service (an encrypted one) for authorized users (including the military). Once the NAVIC is declared operational after checking the systems – space (satellites), ground (ground stations) and the user-end signal receivers, India will formally join a select group of nations owning their own Navigational Satellite system .[6]
The NAVIC constellation of seven satellites are in orbit and is expected to operate from June 2016 onwards.[7][8]
Development
As part of the project, ISRO opened a new satellite navigation center within the campus of ISRO Deep Space Network (DSN) at Byalalu, in Karnataka on 28 May 2013.[9] A network of 21 ranging stations located across the country will provide data for the orbital determination of the satellites and monitoring of the navigation signal.
A goal of complete Indian control has been stated, with the space segment, ground segment and user receivers all being built in India. Its location in low latitudes facilitates a coverage with low-inclination satellites. Three satellites will be in geostationary orbit over the Indian Ocean. Missile targeting could be an important military application for the constellation.[10]
The total cost of the project is expected to be ₹1,420 crore (US$170 million), with the cost of the ground segment being ₹300 crore (US$36 million). Each satellites costing ₹150 crore (US$18 million) and the PSLV-XL version rocket costs around ₹130 crore (US$16 million) . The seven rockets would involve an outlay of around ₹910 crore (US$109 million).[4][11][12] The NAVIC signal has been released for evaluation in Sep 2014[13]
Time-Frame
In April 2010, it was reported that India plans to start launching satellites by the end of 2011, at a rate of one satellite every six months. This would have made the NAVIC functional by 2015. But program was delayed.[14] India also launched 3 new satellites into space to supplement this.[15]
Seven satellites with the prefix "IRNSS-1" will constitute the space segment of the IRNSS. IRNSS-1A, the first of the seven satellites, was launched on 1 July 2013.[16][17] IRNSS-1B was launched on 4 April 2014 on board the PSLV-C24 rocket. The satellite has been placed in geosynchronous orbit.[18] IRNSS-1C was launched on 16 October 2014,[19] IRNSS-1D on 28 March 2015,[20] IRNSS-1E on 20 January 2016,[21]IRNSS-1F on 10 March 2016 and IRNSS-1G was launched on 28 April 2016.[22]
Description
The system consists of a constellation of seven satellites and a support ground segment. Three of the satellites in the constellation are located in geostationary orbit (GEO) at 32.5° East, 83° East, and 131.5° East longitude. The other four are inclined geosynchronous orbit (GSO). Two of the GSOs cross the equator at 55° East and two at 111.75° East.[23] The four GSO satellites will appear to be moving in the form of an "8".[24] In addition, various ground-based systems will control, track orbits, check integration and send radio signals to the satellites. The land-based Master Control Center (MCC) will run navigational software.[25]
NAVIC signals will consist of a Standard Positioning Service and a Precision Service. Both will be carried on L5 (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2492.028 MHz). The SPS signal will be modulated by a 1 MHz BPSK signal. The Precision Service will use BOC(5,2). The navigation signals themselves would be transmitted in the S-band frequency (2–4 GHz) and broadcast through a phased array antenna to maintain required coverage and signal strength. The satellites would weigh approximately 1,330 kg and their solar panels generate 1,400 watts. The system is intended to provide an absolute position accuracy of better than 10 meters throughout Indian landmass and better than 20 meters in the Indian Ocean as well as a region extending approximately 1,500 km around India.[26]
Satellites
IRNSS-1A
IRNSS-1A was the first navigational satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System series of satellites to be placed in geosynchronous orbit.[27][28] It was built at ISRO Satellite Centre, Bangalore, costing ₹125 crore (US$15 million).[11][12][16][29] It has a lift-off mass of 1380 kg, and carries a navigation payload and a C-band ranging transponder, which operates in L5 band (1176.45 MHz) and S band (2492.028 MHz).[30] An optimised I-1K bus structure with a power handling capability of around 1600 watts is used and is designed for a ten-year mission.[31][32] The satellite was launched on-board PSLV-C22 on 1 July 2013 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.[16][17][33]
IRNSS-1B
IRNSS-1B is the second out of seven in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. It was very precisely and successfully placed in its orbit through PSLV-C24 rocket on 4 April 2014.[34]
IRNSS-1C
IRNSS-1C is the third out of seven in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System series of satellites. The satellite was successfully launched using India's PSLV-C26 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on 16 October 2014 at 1:32 am.[35][36]
IRNSS-1D
IRNSS-1D is the fourth out of seven in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System series of satellites system. It was successfully launched using India's PSLV-C27 on 28 March 2015 at 5:19 pm.[28][37]
IRNSS-1E
IRNSS-1E is the fifth out of seven in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System series of satellites system. It was successfully launched on 20 January 2016 using India's PSLV-C31 at 9:31 am.[38][39]
IRNSS-1F
IRNSS-1F is the sixth out of seven in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System series of satellites system. It was successfully launched on 10 March 2016 using India's PSLV-C32 at 4:01 pm.[8][38]
IRNSS-1G
IRNSS-1G is the seventh and final of the IRNSS series of satellites system. It was successfully launched on 28 April 2016 at 12:51pm IST using India's PSLV-C33. The successful launch of this satellite concludes the setting up of India's first indigenous Regional Navigation Satellite System.[40]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Orbit height and info".
- ^ "IRNSS-1G exemplifies 'Make in India', says PM". The Statesman. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ "IRNSS details".
- ^ a b "Isro to launch 5th navigation satellite on Jan 20, first in 2016".
- ^ Srivastava, Ishan (5 April 2014). "How Kargil spurred India to design own GPS". The Times of India. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
- ^ "ISRO puts seventh and final IRNSS navigation satellite into orbit". Times of India.
- ^ "India to have its own fully-functional GPS system by June 2016: ISRO".
- ^ a b "Isro's PSLV-C32 places India's sixth navigation satellite IRNSS-1F in orbit". Times of India.
- ^ "ISRO opens navigation centre for satellite system". Zeenews.com. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
- ^ "India Making Strides in Satellite Technology". Defence News. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- ^ a b "India's first ever dedicated navigation satellite launched". DNA India. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ a b "India's first dedicated navigation satellite placed in orbit". NDTV. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2013.
- ^ http://gpsworld.com/irnss-signal-in-space-icd-released/
- ^ S. Anandan (10 April 2010). "Launch of first satellite for Indian Regional Navigation Satellite system next year". Beta.thehindu.com. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ^ H. Pathak. "3 Satellites To Be Launched By ISRO".
- ^ a b c "ISRO's Future programme". ISRO. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Countdown begins for PSLV-C22 launch". thehindubusinessline.com. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
- ^ "Isro successfully launches navigation satellite IRNSS-1B". Times Of India. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "ISRO puts India's Navigation satellite IRNSS 1B into orbit". IANS. news.biharprabha.com. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-successfully-launches-IRNSS-1D-fourth-of-seven-navigation-satellites/articleshow/46727095.cms
- ^ "India launches 5th navigation satellite IRNSS-1E powered by PSLV rocket". hindustantimes.com. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/isro-launches-rocket-carrying-india-s-seventh-navigation-satellite-116042800308_1.html
- ^ "First IRNSS satellite by December". Magazine article. Asian Surveying and Mapping. 5 May 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2009. [dead link ]
- ^ "How Kargil spurred India to design own GPS". The Times of India. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ K. Radhakrishnan (29 December 2013). "Mars and more, final frontier". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
- ^ A. Bhaskaranarayana Director SCP/FMO & Scientific Secretary Indian Space Research Organisation – Indian IRNSS and GAGAN
- ^ "IRNSS-1A". n2yo. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ a b "IRNSS". space.skyrocket.de. Retrieved 8 April 2012.
- ^ "ISRO Forthcoming Satellite launches". ISRO. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ "IRNSS-1A". ISRO. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
- ^ "India to launch first navigational satellite on June 12". Zee news. 18 May 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
- ^ "India's First Navigational Satellite IRNSS -1A to be Launched in June - International Business Times". Ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
- ^ "Indian PSLV successfully launches IRNSS-1A navigation satellite". Zee News. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
- ^ "India launches second navigation satellite IRNSS 1B". Business Standard. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "ISRO getting ready for IRNSS 1C launch next month". Economic Times.
- ^ "ISRO to launch IRNSS 1C on October 10". IBN Live. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
- ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Countdown-begins-for-launch-of-IRNSS-1D/articleshow/46697869.cms
- ^ a b "'All seven satellites of IRNSS to be in orbit by March 2016'". Business Standard. 29 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Deccan Chronicle: PSLV launch countdown begins at SHAR in Nellore".
- ^ "'India launches seventh navigation satellite, to get its own GPS'". International Business Times. 28 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
Footnotes
- ^ SATNAV Industry Meet 2006. ISRO Space India Newsletter. April – September 2006 Issue.