 "Countdown begins for launch of PSLV-C26 carrying IRNSS-1C")
The countdown for the launch of IRNSS-1C, the third in the series of seven navigation satellites, has commenced today at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC)-SHAR, Sriharikota, about 100 km from Chennai.
IRNSS-1C is the third in the series of planned seven satellites, part of India’s navigation system, on par with the US Global Positioning System or the Russian Glonass.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is scheduled to launch its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C26, which will carry the navigation satellite IRNSS 1C on October 16 at 1.32 am.
The Launch Authorisation Board of Isro has authorised the countdown for PSLV-C26 / IRNSS-1C Mission, to commence at 6.32 am (IST) today, said ISRO.
Following this, the mono-methyl hydrazine (MMH) propellant filling operation of the fourth stage (PS4) of PSLV-C26 and the propellant (MMH) filling of the reaction control thrusters (RCT) of first stage (PS1) have been completed.
The satellite had already been integrated with the vehicle and the final phase of the check was in progress.
PSLV-C26 will use the ‘XL’ version of PSLV, and this is the seventh time the XL configuration is being flown, while the last one being the PSLV-C25, used for Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).
IRNSS was designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from the country’s maritime boundary, said ISRO.
Its predecessors, IRNSS-1A and IRNSS-1B, were launched by PSLV-C22 and PSLV-C24, in Jul 2013 and Apr 2014, respectively.
IRNSS-1C has a lift-off mass of 1,425.40 kg. Its configuration is similar to that of its predecessor satellites. It will carry two types of payloads-- the navigation payload and ranging payload. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1C will transmit navigation service signals to the users.
The payload will operate in L5-band (1176.45 MHz) and S-band (2492.028 MHz). A highly accurate rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite.
The ranging payload of IRNSS-1C consists of a C-band transponder, which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.
IRNSS-1C also carries the corner cube retro reflectors for laser ranging, said ISRO.
IRNSS-1C is the third in the series of planned seven satellites, part of India’s navigation system, on par with the US Global Positioning System or the Russian Glonass.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is scheduled to launch its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C26, which will carry the navigation satellite IRNSS 1C on October 16 at 1.32 am.
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Originally, the countdown was planned on October 10, but was postponed for two days.
The Launch Authorisation Board of Isro has authorised the countdown for PSLV-C26 / IRNSS-1C Mission, to commence at 6.32 am (IST) today, said ISRO.
Following this, the mono-methyl hydrazine (MMH) propellant filling operation of the fourth stage (PS4) of PSLV-C26 and the propellant (MMH) filling of the reaction control thrusters (RCT) of first stage (PS1) have been completed.
The satellite had already been integrated with the vehicle and the final phase of the check was in progress.
PSLV-C26 will use the ‘XL’ version of PSLV, and this is the seventh time the XL configuration is being flown, while the last one being the PSLV-C25, used for Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM).
IRNSS was designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1,500 km from the country’s maritime boundary, said ISRO.
Its predecessors, IRNSS-1A and IRNSS-1B, were launched by PSLV-C22 and PSLV-C24, in Jul 2013 and Apr 2014, respectively.
IRNSS-1C has a lift-off mass of 1,425.40 kg. Its configuration is similar to that of its predecessor satellites. It will carry two types of payloads-- the navigation payload and ranging payload. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1C will transmit navigation service signals to the users.
The payload will operate in L5-band (1176.45 MHz) and S-band (2492.028 MHz). A highly accurate rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite.
The ranging payload of IRNSS-1C consists of a C-band transponder, which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.
IRNSS-1C also carries the corner cube retro reflectors for laser ranging, said ISRO.