The fourth navigation satellite, IRNSS-1D was launched by India on saturday evening at 05:19 hrs IST ( 28th March, 2015). The ISRO's work horse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV gave the country and the ISRO yet another text book launch which lifted off from Sriharikota exactly at 17:19 hrs IST. The spacecraft was placed into its intended orbit.
The launch was earlier scheduled for Mach 9, 2015 but was postponed to March 28, 2015 due to technical reasons. The PSLV-C27 used the 'XL' version of PSLV like the earlier three launches of IRNSS satellites. This is the 8th time an 'XL' version of PSLV is being flown. IRNSS-1D is the first orbital launch of the year 2015.
The IRNSS-1D will join the three other satellites already in orbit. The IRNSS-1D is the fourth in a planned seven satellite constellation which will provide India and its surrounding region with an independent satellite navigation services.
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) operating in geosynchronous orbit has been under development by ISRO since 2006 with the first satellite reaching orbit in mid 2013. The IRNSS constellation calls for three geostationary satellites and four more in inclined geosynchronous orbits. The geostationary slots, located at 34, 83 and 132 degrees East will each be occupied by a single satellite, while the two inclined stations, at 55 and 111.75 degrees East will each be home to a pair of spacecraft.
When finished, the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System ( IRNSS ) will consist of seven satellites in Geostationary and Geosynchronous orbits covering India and surrounding areas to provide India with independent access to navigation data without depending on foreign programs like GPS or GLONASS.
The IRNSS system is designed to be compatible with the US Global Positioning System and Europe's Galileo constellation using navigation signals in S-Band and at L5 band. The IRNSS satellites will cover only India and its surroundings with high accuracy services available about 1500 Kilometers beyond the Indian region.
Saturday's launch was preceded by a 59.5-hour countdown sequence that started at 0:19 UTC on Thursday morning and included all the necessary events to load the PSLV with propellants and prepare all systems on the launcher and the ground for the launch.
Flying in its XL configuration, PSLV consists of the standard PS1 first stage that has six stretched boosters attached to it and a liquid-fueled second stage atop which sits the solid third and the dual-engine liquid-fueled fourth stage. Overall, the rocket stands 44.5 meters tall, has a diameter of 2.8 meters and a liftoff mass of 320,000 Kilograms.
Here is a video showing the activities during the launch of PSLV-C27.
The launch was earlier scheduled for Mach 9, 2015 but was postponed to March 28, 2015 due to technical reasons. The PSLV-C27 used the 'XL' version of PSLV like the earlier three launches of IRNSS satellites. This is the 8th time an 'XL' version of PSLV is being flown. IRNSS-1D is the first orbital launch of the year 2015.
The IRNSS-1D will join the three other satellites already in orbit. The IRNSS-1D is the fourth in a planned seven satellite constellation which will provide India and its surrounding region with an independent satellite navigation services.
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) operating in geosynchronous orbit has been under development by ISRO since 2006 with the first satellite reaching orbit in mid 2013. The IRNSS constellation calls for three geostationary satellites and four more in inclined geosynchronous orbits. The geostationary slots, located at 34, 83 and 132 degrees East will each be occupied by a single satellite, while the two inclined stations, at 55 and 111.75 degrees East will each be home to a pair of spacecraft.
When finished, the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System ( IRNSS ) will consist of seven satellites in Geostationary and Geosynchronous orbits covering India and surrounding areas to provide India with independent access to navigation data without depending on foreign programs like GPS or GLONASS.
The IRNSS system is designed to be compatible with the US Global Positioning System and Europe's Galileo constellation using navigation signals in S-Band and at L5 band. The IRNSS satellites will cover only India and its surroundings with high accuracy services available about 1500 Kilometers beyond the Indian region.
Saturday's launch was preceded by a 59.5-hour countdown sequence that started at 0:19 UTC on Thursday morning and included all the necessary events to load the PSLV with propellants and prepare all systems on the launcher and the ground for the launch.
Flying in its XL configuration, PSLV consists of the standard PS1 first stage that has six stretched boosters attached to it and a liquid-fueled second stage atop which sits the solid third and the dual-engine liquid-fueled fourth stage. Overall, the rocket stands 44.5 meters tall, has a diameter of 2.8 meters and a liftoff mass of 320,000 Kilograms.
Here is a video showing the activities during the launch of PSLV-C27.
