The launch of IRNSS 1C, the third of seven satellites in the series to put in place India’s navigation system at par with US’ Global Positioning System, was successfully launched in the wee hours of Thursday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota.
At 1.32 a.m. Thursday, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C26) carrying the 1,425-kg Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System-1C (IRNSS-1C) lifted off.
As part of its aspirations to build a regional navigational system equivalent to Global Positioning System of the US, ISRO plans to send seven satellites to put in place the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS).
The first two satellites in the series, IRNSS 1A and IRNSS 1B were launched from Sriharikota on July 1, 2013 and April 4 this year respectively. IRNSS’ applications include terrestrial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management.