ISRO to launch navigational satellite system in 2013
23 Jul 2012
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman, Dr K Radhakrishnan said yesterday that India would launch the first of the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) satellites in 2013.
A satellite navigation system comprises a system of satellites providing autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage.
The system allows small electronic receivers to determine their location ( longitude, latitude and altitude) to within a few metres using time signals transmitted by radio from satellites.
Receivers calculate position and time with high degree of precision, for use in a variety of applications.
Speaking at the convocation ceremony of the National College in Bangalore, he said, ''In the next two years, India will have its very own navigation satellite.''
The system would be part of a seven satellite constellation developed at a cost of Rs 1,600 crore, providing Indian users accuracy levels of less than 20 metres throughout India and across an area stretching over 1,000 km from Indian borders. Capable of both military and civilian applications, an indigenous navigation system would see India gain entry to an exclusive club of nations having individual navigation systems.
