ISRO launches PSLV C32, India's sixth navigation satellite

The Indian Space Research Organzation on Thursday launched its sixth navigation satellite IRNSS-1F on board trusted workhorse - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle - PSLV C32.

The Satellite was launched after the green signal was given by Mission Readiness Review Committee and Launch Authorisation Board.

The satellite has been launched with an objective of providing better navigation services at par with the US-based Global Positioning System.

Designed for a life cycle of 12 years, the satellite has two payloads-one for navigation and the other for ranging. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1F will transmit navigation service signals to the users. This payload will be operating in the L5-band and S-band. A highly accurate rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite.

The ranging payload of IRNSS-1F consists of a C-band transponder (automatic receivers and transmitters of radio signals) which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.

The five satellites already launched are IRNSS-1A which was launched on July 1, 2013; IRNSS-1B launched on April 4, 2014; IRNSS-1C launched on October 16, 2014; IRNSS-1D launched on March 28, 2015; and IRNSS-1E that was launched on January 20, 2016.

It is also expected that the ISRO will soon launch its seventh satellite-IRNSS-1G- somewhere in the second half of 2016.

ISRO Background Report
PSLV-C32 Mission
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its thirty fourth flight (PSLV-C32), launches IRNSS-1F, the sixth satellite of the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS). The launch took place from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

This is the thirty third consecutively successful mission of PSLV and the twelfth in its 'XL' configuration, earlier eleventh being PSLV-C11/Chandrayan-1, PSLV-C17/GSAT-12, PSLV-C19/RISAT-1, PSLV-C22/IRNSS-1A, PSLV-C25/Mars Orbiter Spacecraft, PSLV-C24/IRNSS-1B, PSLV-C26/IRNSS-1C, PSLV-C27/IRNSS-1D, PSLV-C28/DMC3, PSLV-C30/ASTROSAT and PSLV-C31/IRNSS-1E missions.

IRNSS-1F
IRNSS-1F is the sixth navigation satellite of the seven satellites constituting the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) space segment. Its predecessors, IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E were successfully launched by PSLV-C22, PSLV-C24, PSLV-C26, PSLV-C27 and PSLV-C31 in July 2013, April 2014, October 2014, March 2015 and January 2016 respectively. All the five satellites are functioning satisfactorily from their designated orbital positions.

Sun and Star sensors as well as gyroscopes provide orientation reference for the satellite. Special thermal control schemes have been designed and implemented for some of the critical elements such as atomic clocks.

The Attitude and Orbit Control System (AOCS) of IRNSS-1F maintains the satellite's orientation with the help of reaction wheels, magnetic torques and thrusters. Its propulsion system consists of a Liquid Apogee Motor (LAM) and thrusters.

A highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite. The ranging payload of IRNSS-1F consists of a C-band transponder, which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite. IRNSS-1F also carries Corner Cube Retro Reflectors for laser ranging.

IRNSS-1F was launched by PSLV-C32 into a sub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (sub GTO) on March 10, 2016 at 16:01 hrs (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

SLV-C32
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its thirty fourth flight (PSLV-C32), launches IRNSS-1F, the sixth satellite of the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS). The launch took place from the Second Launch Pad (SLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota. This is the thirty third consecutively successful mission of PSLV and the twelfth in its 'XL' configuration, earlier eleventh being PSLV-C11/Chandrayan-1, PSLV-C17/GSAT-12, PSLV-C19/RISAT-1, PSLV-C22/IRNSS-1A, PSLV-C25/Mars Orbiter Spacecraft, PSLV-C24/IRNSS-1B, PSLV-C26/IRNSS-1C, PSLV-C27/IRNSS-1D, PSLV-C28/DMC3, PSLV-C30/ASTROSAT and PSLV-C31/IRNSS-1E missions.

IRNSS-1F has a lift-off mass of 1425 kg. The configuration of IRNSS-1F is similar to that of IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E. The two solar arrays of IRNSS-1F consisting of Ultra Triple Junction solar cells generate about 1660 Watts of electrical power. Sun and Star sensors as well as gyroscopes provide orientation reference for the satellite. Special thermal control schemes have been designed and implemented for some of the critical elements such as atomic clocks.

IRNSS -1F carries two types of payloads - navigation payload and ranging payload. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1F will transmit navigation service signals to the users. This payload will be operating in L5 band and S band. A highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite. The ranging payload of IRNSS-1F consists of a C-band transponder, which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite. IRNSS-1F also carries Corner Cube Retro Reflectors for laser ranging.

IRNSS-1F was launched by PSLV-C32 into a sub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (sub GTO) on March 10, 2016 at 16:01 hrs (IST) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

Source: Indo-Asia News Service