ISRO launched Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-1F

On 10 March 2016, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the country’s sixth Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS)-1F, on board the trusted launch vehicle PSLV C-32. The lift off took place from the second launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Shriharikotta. Satellite IRNSS-1F was launched after the 54 and a half hour countdown that started on 8 March 2016. XL version of PSLV was used in PSLV-C32 and ir was the twelfth time that the ‘XL’ configuration was flown.

Salient Features:

Ø  The lift off mass of IRNSS-1F is 1425 kg and the dry mass is 598 kg.

Ø  Its configuration is similar to that of IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E.

Ø  The two solar arrays of IRNSS-1F consisting of Ultra Triple Junction solar cells generate about 1660 watts of electrical power.

Ø  The mission life of IRNSS-1F is 12 years.

Ø  IRNSS-1F carried two types of payloads navigation payload and ranging payload. The navigation payload of IRNSS-1F will transmit navigation service signal to the users.

IRNSS-1F will form part of the home grown seven satellites Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) to provide accurate position information services, similar to the GPS in the whole country and up to 1500 km around it. This is India’s second mission in 2016, and the first one was also the successful insertion of an IRNSS-1E navigation satellite by PSLV C-31 on 20 January 2016.