Isro's next PSLV to carry indigenous navigation satellite

After successful launch of six Singapore satellites recently, Indian space scientists will launch PSLV rocket carrying the country’s indigenous IRNSS-1E navigation satellite from the spaceport of Sriharikota on January 20.

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said the Mission Readiness Review Committee (MRRC) meeting was held on Sunday and decided the countdown activities of the rocket. “MRCC meeting was held today. The countdown is expected to start at 9:30 am on Monday,” Isro’s spokesperson Devi Prasad Karnik told Deccan Herald on Sunday.

Stating that the rocket was moved from vehicle assembly building to the second launch pad, the official pointed out that this is the first satellite launch for Isro in 2016.

According to him, as in the previous four launches of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) satellites, PSLV-C31 will use “XL” version of PSLV. The 44.4 metre tall PSLV-C31, Isro’s most trusted rocket and workhorse launch flight, weighing 320 tonne, will carry IRNSS-1E,  from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC).

The satellite, which is the fifth navigation device of the seven of its kind constituting the IRNSS space segment, is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from its boundary.

IRNSS-1E carries two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload. The latest IRNSS, which will provide Standard Positioning Service (SPS), is responsible for navigation parameter generation and transmission, satellite control, ranging and integrity monitoring as well as time keeping.