What is the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)?
It’s a GPS-like regional satellite-based navigation system being developed by India. But unlike the US-operated Global Positioning System (GPS), or the Russian GLONASS, the EU’s Galileo or China’s Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which have global coverage, IRNSS will focus on the region — up to 1,500 km beyond India’s boundaries, between longitude 40° E and 140° E, and latitude ± 40°. The project will cost around Rs 1,420 crore.
How many satellites will be part of it?
IRNSS is planned as a constellation of seven satellites. Three will be placed in geostationary orbit ; the other four in geosynchronous orbit. The three geostationary satellites will appear fixed in the sky, while the four geosynchronous satellites will appear to move in the figure of ‘8’ when observed from the ground.
The IRNSS-1E, which was launched on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C31, from Sriharikota, is the fifth of the seven satellites that will make the constellation. The remaining two are scheduled to be launched before March this year
What will be its ground infrastructure?
A total 20 stations for generation and transmission of navigation parameters, satellite control and monitoring, mostly at airports, along with Indian GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) ground elements. IRNSS will also have two Master Control Stations, likely to be co-located with GAGAN Indian Master Control Centres.
IRNSS satellite use two microwave frequency bands: L5 and S- Dual frequency. These microwaves travel at speed of light
How accurate will the coverage be?
IRNSS will provide positional accuracies similar to the GPS: 10 m over the Indian landmass, 20 m over the Indian Ocean. As is the case with GPS and the US military, IRNSS will provide a more accurate restricted service for the Indian armed forces and other special authorized users.
What are the applications of IRNSS?
Terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, integration with mobile phones, mapping and geodetic data capture. Also, terrestrial navigation aid for hikers; visual and voice navigation for drivers. But the crucial use will be for Indian armed forces, who can rely on assured positional data during hostilities. Most modern weapon systems like guided missiles and bombs use navigation systems for targeting. An indigenous system like the IRNSS will ensure reliable development and execution of such capabilities.
Why is IRNSS so critical to the military?
IRNSS is a strategic requirement for modern war-fighting. Because access to foreign government-controlled navigation satellite systems such as the American GPS or EU’s Galileo is not guaranteed during hostilities — as experienced by India banking on the GPS during the Kargil war — it is critical to have India’s own system in the likely area of military operations.
Does Pakistan have an IRNSS like system?
No. Pakistan’s armed forces currently rely on the US GPS system but are scheduled to switch to China’s Beidou. China may build a network of ground stations in Pakistan to enhance location accuracy.
What's the difference between GAGAN and IRNSS?
It’s a GPS-like regional satellite-based navigation system being developed by India. But unlike the US-operated Global Positioning System (GPS), or the Russian GLONASS, the EU’s Galileo or China’s Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), which have global coverage, IRNSS will focus on the region — up to 1,500 km beyond India’s boundaries, between longitude 40° E and 140° E, and latitude ± 40°. The project will cost around Rs 1,420 crore.
How many satellites will be part of it?
IRNSS is planned as a constellation of seven satellites. Three will be placed in geostationary orbit ; the other four in geosynchronous orbit. The three geostationary satellites will appear fixed in the sky, while the four geosynchronous satellites will appear to move in the figure of ‘8’ when observed from the ground.
The IRNSS-1E, which was launched on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV-C31, from Sriharikota, is the fifth of the seven satellites that will make the constellation. The remaining two are scheduled to be launched before March this year
What will be its ground infrastructure?
A total 20 stations for generation and transmission of navigation parameters, satellite control and monitoring, mostly at airports, along with Indian GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) ground elements. IRNSS will also have two Master Control Stations, likely to be co-located with GAGAN Indian Master Control Centres.
IRNSS satellite use two microwave frequency bands: L5 and S- Dual frequency. These microwaves travel at speed of light
How accurate will the coverage be?
IRNSS will provide positional accuracies similar to the GPS: 10 m over the Indian landmass, 20 m over the Indian Ocean. As is the case with GPS and the US military, IRNSS will provide a more accurate restricted service for the Indian armed forces and other special authorized users.
What are the applications of IRNSS?
Terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, integration with mobile phones, mapping and geodetic data capture. Also, terrestrial navigation aid for hikers; visual and voice navigation for drivers. But the crucial use will be for Indian armed forces, who can rely on assured positional data during hostilities. Most modern weapon systems like guided missiles and bombs use navigation systems for targeting. An indigenous system like the IRNSS will ensure reliable development and execution of such capabilities.
Why is IRNSS so critical to the military?
IRNSS is a strategic requirement for modern war-fighting. Because access to foreign government-controlled navigation satellite systems such as the American GPS or EU’s Galileo is not guaranteed during hostilities — as experienced by India banking on the GPS during the Kargil war — it is critical to have India’s own system in the likely area of military operations.
Does Pakistan have an IRNSS like system?
No. Pakistan’s armed forces currently rely on the US GPS system but are scheduled to switch to China’s Beidou. China may build a network of ground stations in Pakistan to enhance location accuracy.
What's the difference between GAGAN and IRNSS?
GAGAN is augmented version of GPS. The main reason of having GAGAN is usage of GPS procedures and certified GPS usage in Indian airspace. Needless to say GAGAN without GPS is useless and Indian Armed forces cant use GPS for their own usage because of trust or legal reasons (there is a formal agreement between India and US on GPS usage for GAGAN). To remove this dependency and to provide Indian NAVY/Armed Forces satellite navigation services India came up with IRNSS.
IRNSS would be completely independent constellation of satellites designed to provide satellite based navigation services with in the Indian subcontinent. Apart from the fact that it will not have global coverage and hence less number of satellites, It will be very similar to that of GPS.
IRNSS would be completely independent constellation of satellites designed to provide satellite based navigation services with in the Indian subcontinent. Apart from the fact that it will not have global coverage and hence less number of satellites, It will be very similar to that of GPS.
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