Polar Satellite launch Vehicle (PSLV-C32) today successfully put in to orbit the sixth navigation satellite -IRNSS-1F - from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here. "It was a precise launch," said AS Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO, after the launch from the mission control room.
The launch time was revised to 4.01 pm (delay by one minute) to avoid space debris, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
With the launch, India moved a step closer to joining a select group of nations having its own satellite navigation system.
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) consist of a constellation of seven satellites. So far, India has launched six regional navigational satellites (IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, ID, 1E and 1F) to provide accurate position information service to users across the country and the region, extending up to an area of 1,500 km.
The navigation payload of IRNSS-1F will transmit navigation service signals to users. This payload will be operating in L5-band and S-band. A highly accurate rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite.
Immediately after the 1,425 kg IRNSS-1F satellite was ejected by the rocket - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C32), scientists at the mission control centre clapped their hands happily.
The seventh navigation system is expected to do sometime next month, said ISRO chairman.