Isro to complete navigational satellite launches by end of March, next year

A mission of GSLV Mark II is expected to be launched in August

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has said that it would complete launch of its naviation satellites will be completed by the end of March, next year. Chandrayan 2, the second mission to moon, which is expected to be launched by 2016-17, is oin to the realisation phase and the work is in progress, said senior officials from the organisation.

Speaking to reporters after the launch of PSLV C28 with five British satellites, Isro Chairman A S Kiran Kumar said that the fifth navigational satellite of the constellation of seven satellites, will be launched in November, this year. "Four navigational satellites have already been launched and the remaining three are getting ready. We expect the launch of next three by end of March, next year. The fifth one is expected to be launched in November," he said.

 

The Space Organisation has launched the fourth of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) seven satellites, constituting the space segment of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, in March, this year. IRNSS-1A, 1B and 1C, the first three satellites of the constellation, were successfully launched by PSLV on July 2, 2013, April 4, 2014 and October 16, 2014 respectively. IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide position information in the Indian region and 1500 km around the Indian mainland. IRNSS would provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Services (SPS) - provided to all users - and Restricted Services (RS), provided to authorised users.

When asked about the next major mission under consideration, he said that the science team is currently discussion about the next major mission the Isro should take forward, and the topics discussed include whether to go for another Mars Mission or mission to venus or we should look at Asteroids. There is a science team which is going through this discussion and based on their finding the next course of action will be taken up.

For the Aditya Satellite, which is designed to study the Sun's corona, only recently Isro has finalised the configuration. There were significant changes were there to the original requirement and with the revised configuration the works for the Satellite will start soon, he said. Next launch is going to be GSLV Mark II, and the satellite for that has reached the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota, and it is going through the final test and the assembly of the launch vehicle has also started. "We are planning to go with the launch in August," he added. The reusable launch vehicle being developed by Isro is expected to be ready by October.