Bengaluru: Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO)
has launched its seventh and final satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation
Satellite System (IRNSS). Named as NAVIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation),
the seventh satellite will work together to provide accurate navigation
‘including terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, mobile phone
services, mapping and land surveying data, voice navigation for cars and
disaster management,’ reports said.
After the satellite launching on Thursday, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi ‘hailed’ the initiative. He also took to Twitter to
celebrate the ‘gift of science’: “We will determine our own paths powered by
our technology with this successful launch. It’s a great gift to people.” He
also announced the satellite to be named as NAVIC, according to sources.
The seventh satellite of IRNSS 1G, was launched into
a sub geosynchronous transfer orbit with a perigree (nearest point to earth) of
284 km and an apogee (farthest point to earth) of 20,657 km. ISRO said that the
satellite was launched on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV),
which took off from the Sriharikota launch pad at 12.50 p.m.
ISRO also declared that with this launch of NAVIC,
the process of IRNSS constellation of seven satellites is complete. The system
will work in a similar manner of GPS, the global positioning system operated by
the United States comprising
24 satellites. A nationally developed and tested, the 1420 crore project, as Dr
TK Alex, former director of ISRO said will be able to provide two types of
services- the Standard Positioning Services (SPS), available to all users and the
Restricted Services (RS), meant for the intelligence and defense uses.
In his speech after the satellite launch, PM Modi
also asked neighboring countries to take part in the navigational system. In a
video conference with the ISRO engineers, he asserted: “We have seven neighbors
who rely on technology provided by other countries. They can use Indian
services if they want.”
“We
are now one of five countries with our own navigational system. Today we are
free of dependence on other countries for navigation. Our planes will be able
to land with ease and accuracy, we can plan disaster relief better and with our
own technology,” PM said congratulating ISRO.
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