PSLV-C31 successfully launched IRNSS-1E satellite

On 20 January 2016, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) 1-E satellite. The satellite will provide navigation, tracking and mapping services to the Indian sub continents. The satellite is the fifth of the IRNSS constellation. It was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on-board the PSLV-C31. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C31 was the 32^nd consecutively successful mission of the PSLV. The ‘XL’ configuration of PSLV was used for this mission.

Features of IRNSS-1E:

Ø  IRNSS-1E, weighing 1425kg, is the fifth of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS.

Ø  IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, the first four satellites of the constellation, were successfully launched by PSLV in July 2013, April 2014, October 2014 and March 2015 respectively.

Ø  IRNSS-1E carries two types of payloads – navigation payload and ranging payload.

Ø  The navigation payload of IRNSS-1E will transmit navigation service signal to the users. This payload will be operating in L5-band and S-band.

Ø  A highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite.

Ø  The ranging payload of IRNSS-1E consist of a C-band transponder which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite.