Countdown to launch India's own GPS begins

Like the US' GPS (Global Positioning System) that gives the exact location of moving aircraft, ships, vehicles and even people carrying smart phones, India will soon have its own satellite-based navigation system.

India’s equivalent of the GPS will be called the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System or IRNSS, a cluster of seven satellites being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) – IRNSS-1A, IRNSS-1B, IRNSS-1C, IRNSS-1D, IRNSS-1E, IRNSS-1F and IRNSS-1G.

The first satellite – IRNSS-1A which will weigh 1,425 kg – is expected to be launched on July 1, 2013. Launched from Sriharikota on PSLV-C22 rockets, all the seven satellites are expected to be in orbit by early 2015 and will operate in allweather conditions.

Read More............