May 29: In a copybook manoeuvre, India successfully launched the first of its second-generation navigation satellites, NVS-01, on Monday. The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) launched the 2,232 kg NVS-01 satellite, which is a component of the Indian NavIC satellite navigation system (also known as the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, or IRNSS). NavIC, to put it simply, is an Indian version of the Global Positioning System.
The three-stage GSLV rocket, which is 51.7 meters tall and weighs 420 tonnes, launched from the area's second launch pad at 10:42 a.m. The rocket rose steadily after escaping the gravity of the earth and developed a bright orange fire at its tail.
Indian space scientists at ISRO were glued to their computer displays in the rocket mission control room as they monitored the rocket's voyage. NVS-01 was launched into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) just over 19 minutes into the mission, from which point it will be carried to its final destination.
Nine satellites make up the Indian NavIC satellite navigation system, with seven in orbit and two backups. The NavIC will be supported and augmented by the NVS series of satellites. The NVS-01, which has a 12-year mission life, is fueled by two solar panels that can produce up to 2.4kW of power and a lithium-ion battery during the eclipse.
This series expands its services by having payloads that work on the L1, L5, and S bands. According to ISRO, the L1 navigation band is well-known for its interoperability with other GNSS signals and for offering Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services to civilian customers.
Nevertheless, all nine of the navigation satellites that ISRO had previously launched had been equipped with imported atomic clocks. Three atomic clocks were present on each spacecraft. Up until the atomic clocks in IRNSS-1A failed, it was claimed that the NavIC satellites were operating effectively.
Some of the atomic clocks in a few other satellites were also not operating properly, according to ISRO sources who had earlier spoken to IANS. For precise time and position, clocks are used. There are currently eight first-generation NavIC satellites orbiting the Earth.
Four of the eight NavIC satellites are operational for navigation services, and the remaining four provide message services, according to a senior ISRO official who spoke to IANS. Nine first-generation NavIC satellites, including the two backup satellites, have been launched by India.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)'s heatshield failed to open, causing the first backup satellite to disappear from view, necessitating the orbiting of the second standby. The backup satellites were needed since the July 2013-launched IRNSS-1A satellite was underperforming due to faulty imported rubidium atomic clocks.
Atomic clocks are crucial for providing precise positioning data. There are three atomic clocks on each satellite. IRNSS/first generation NavIC system costs were estimated to be at Rs 1,420 crore.
A senior ISRO official stated that five more of this NVS version are now being planned. After two to three years, two more will be required to care for the current ones as they near the end of their lives. These five satellites are said to have cost less than Rs 1,000 crore, in his estimation.
NVS-01, like the other NavIC satellites, is equipped with both a range payload and a navigation payload. Users will receive navigation service signals from the navigation payload. Operating on L1, L5, and S bands, this payload.
The CxC transponder utilized for two-way CDMA ranging to enable accurate orbit determination makes up the ranging payload. The top ISRO official said, "In addition to the L1 band, we have a highly secured code for strategic signals in L5 and S bands."
ISRO claims that there are many civil and strategic uses for NavIC. IRNSS-1A, IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1C, IRNSS-1D, IRNSS-1E, IRNSS-1F, IRNSS-1G, and IRNSS-1I are the eight NavIC satellites currently in orbit. The ninth one will be the NVS-01 that was released on Monday.
