Indian space agency launches 3rd of 7th satellite constellation of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)

PSLV C26 successfully injects navigation satellite IRNSS 1C into the designated orbit. pic.twitter.com/ZJN8XxFTp6
— ISRO (@isro) October 15, 2014

Isro successfully launched IRNSS 1C, the third member of the seven satellite constellation of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), in the wee hours of Thursday.Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - C26, carrying IRNSS 1C, lifted off from the first launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 1.32am. The satellite detached from the launch vehicle about 20 minutes after the launch at an altitude of 499.63km soaring with a velocity of 9604.87 metre per second. This was the 27th consecutive successful flight of PSLV.

"It is a perfect launch. The injection was very precise and the PSLV was integrated at Sriharikota in 60 days, and there was a team of 1000 members working for the last four days to make this launch a success," said ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan after the launch.Initially, the satellite was injected into a sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit with a 282.56km perigee (nearest point to Earth) and 20,670 apogee (farthest point from Earth). Later, it was lifted to a geo-stationary orbit.

The satellite, which is similar in composition to its predecessors 1A and 1B, carries navigation and ranging payloads. It will play a vital role in the IRNSS operations right from guiding drivers on city roads to aerial navigation, disaster management, mapping and surveillance activities.The IRNSS with a 1500km range will make India self-reliant on navigation and surveillance from outer space as it is expected to cover the Asian region. It will be utilized for two services — standard positioning service (SPS) extended to all users and restricted service (RS) which will be encrypted.

Mission director Kunhi Krishnan ​attributed the success of the IRNSS 1C launch to the determination of the scientists and other stake holders.The fourth navigational satellite of the IRNSS segment will be launched in December, and the project will be fully operational next year.