The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the second-generation Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), about 130 km from Chennai on 29th May.
The powerful GSLV rocket which had three stages, stood tall at a height of 51.7 meters and weighed a staggering 420 tons. At 10.42 a.m., it took off into the sky, successfully escaping the strong pull of Earth’s gravity. This significant launch would guarantee that NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) services will continue to operate.
NavIC is an Indian regional satellite navigation system similar to GPS that provides accurate and real-time navigation in India and a region that extends to 1,500 kilometers around the Indian mainland, reported IANS.
The positioning of NavIC signals are intended to be better than 20 meters and timing accuracy is intended to be 50 nanoseconds.
The primary mission of the 51.7 -meter-tall Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle is to deploy the navigation satellite NVS-01 weighing 2,232 kg.
The NVS-01 carries navigation payloads L1, L5 and S groups and in correlation with the past one, the second-generation satellite would likewise convey an indigenously created rubidium atomic clock.
The satellite with a mission life of 12 years is powered by two solar arrays and lithium-ion batteries capable of generating up to 2.4 kW of power during eclipse. The NVS series of satellites will maintain and enhance NAVIC with advanced features.
