IRNSS-1I to enrich navigation fleet

IRNSS-1I to enrich navigation fleet

 What has happened?

Navigation satellite IRNSS-1I was flown into space from Sriharikota space pad in the early hours of Thursday. The 1,425-kg satellite will shortly become the eighth satellite to join the NavIC constellation of Indian regional navigation satellites

 First phase complete of NavIC constellation

Latest launch completes the first phase of the NavIC constellation, an indigenous navigation support

NavIC

• NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), dubbed India’s own GPS, has been designed to provide precise information on position, navigation and time related to objects or people
• The eight satellites have a civilian and restricted military/security application to aid security and disaster management and fleet monitoring on land, air and sea.

IRNSS 1I

ISRO launched the first seven navigation satellites — IRNSS-1A to 1G — between July 2013 and April 2016

Although 1I is the ninth to be built and launched for the NavIC fleet, the previous satellite, 1H, was lost in a faulty launch last August

All rubidium atomic clocks failed

• 1I and 1H were planned as backups but became necessary after all three imported rubidium atomic clocks on 1A failed in orbit
• All seven satellites are required for accurate, 24-hour information from the fleet