ISRO has announced that it will be putting seven satellites of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) into orbit by the end of March 2016 — thus completing India’s own, indigenously built GPS like satellite constellation.
The space body has already launched four IRNSS satellites before. On January 20, ISRO has scheduled the fifth satellite, IRNSS-1E for lift-off from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking at an event, ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) Director M Annadurai confirmed the launch and stated that “from the regional navigation point of view, earlier we had launched four satellites. Another satellite IRNSS-1E is on the launch pad. It is slated for launch on January 20 and by March 31st we want to have all the seven satellites constellation in place”.
The progress on the assimilation of two IRNSS satellites is reportedly near completion at the Bangalore satellite centre.
The launch of IRNSS will put India on par with the most advanced GPS systems put into orbit by the United States.
The IRNSS mission will begin its intended task once all the seven satellites are put into orbit. Even though only four satellites are sufficient for the system to being the operation, the addition of the other three will make the operations precise and efficient.
The seven satellite IRNSS system will strengthen India’s terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation systems, and aid in disaster management, and visual and voice navigation among other important aspects. Once in orbit the IRNSS system will cover an area of about 1,500 km.
While speaking at the ‘Space science technology and applications’ held during the 103rd Indian Science Congress on University of Mysore campus, Annadurai stated that ISRO will set up a grand 100 acre space park in Whitefield, Bangalore.
The space park will aim to bring in the best from the private industries and will provide them a platform to innovate and develop projects catering to space technology. At the space park private players can make use of the space to build their own areas of innovations where various components for satellites will be developed.
The Space Park is coming up near Whitefield for the private industry. It is over 100 acres. It is likely to be inaugurated this month,
stated Annadurai, adding that
A few private organisations are already involved in the space programmes and we are monitoring their quality and progress.
The Director believes that the space park will play a part in the government’s Make in India initiative.
The Space Park will also contribute to the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, as the private industry and state-run firms like Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd have been helping us in making rockets and satellites over the years.
