Isro to place sixth IRNSS satellite in orbit

Going a step closer to installing an indigenous GPS system, Isro scientists will place the sixth navigational satellite IRNSS-1F in orbit on March 10.

The Mission Readiness Review Committee (MRRC) meeting on Monday decided to begin the count-down activities of the PSLV-C32 mission that would carry the satellite to the space, Isro said.

"MRCC meeting was held today. The countdown is expected to take place at 9.30 am from Tuesday", Isro’s spokes person Devi Prasad Karnik told Deccan Herald Monday evening.

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

PSLV

The 44.4 metre-long PSLV-C32, Isro's most trusted rocket and workhorse launch flight weighing 320 tonne, will carry IRNSS-1F from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in the island of the Bay of Bengal, about 90 km north of Chennai.

With a life span of 12 years, IRNSS-1F, which will have a lift-off mass of 1425 kg, carries navigation and ranging payload.

The satellite’s navigation payload will transmit navigation service signals to the users and operate in L5-band and S-band.

Positioning Service

The IRNSS system, which the satellite is part of, is designed to provide Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and is responsible for navigation parameter generation and transmission, satellite control, ranging and integrity monitoring as well as time keeping.

The PSLV will put IRNSS-1F into a sub geosynchronous transfer orbit with 284 km perigee (nearest point to earth) and 20,657 km apogee (farthest point to earth) with an inclination of 17.86 degree with respect to the equatorial plane.

After the satellite settles in the preliminary orbit, its two solar panels will be deployed automatically in quick succession and the master control facility at Hassan will assume control.