ISRO will be launching the fourth iteration of India’s indigenously developed IRNSS navigational system tomorrow. Wondering where to watch it live ? Fret not. You can watch the entire program Live on Doordarshan from 4:30 PM onwards tomorrow.
IRNSS-1D, which is the fourth satellite among the seven of the IRNSS constellation of satellites. IRNSS is slated to be launched to provide navigational services to the subcontinent region, along with portions of China and South Asia. The satellite will be placed in geosynchronous orbit.
ISRO had successfully launched the third series of IRNSS satellites, the IRNSS-1C in October last year. It was launched aboard India’s massively successful PSLV rocket. The previous launch marked the twenty seventh consecutively successful mission of PSLV. The ‘XL’ configuration of PSLV was used for this mission. Previously, the same configuration of the vehicle was successfully used six times.
IRNSS, being developed indigenously by ISRO, when complete, will put India into a selet club of nations, with their own satellite navigation satellites in space. If you do not know what a navigation satellite system is, it is the technical term of your very popular GPS and GLONASS. IRNSS is India’s own, 7-satellite strong regional navigation satellite system, deployed specially to keep a close watch on the Asian region, and counter China’s growing influence over the region.
As for current mission’s status, PSLV-C27/IRNSS-1D countdown operations are progressing normally. Propellant filling operation of second stage (PS2) of PSLV-C27 will be initiated by midnight of today.
