India's 'Own GPS', Which New ISRO Satellite Can Restore, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched NVS-03, its third new-generation navigation satellite, to restore the functioning of India's satellite-based positioning system, NavIC.
• NavIC, or Navigation with Indian Constellation, is the operational name for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), a seven-satellite constellation covering the Indian subcontinent and a 1,500 km surrounding region.
• The system had ceased providing location data primarily due to the failure of imported atomic clocks on several satellites and issues with recent launches.
• India is the only country with a regional navigation system, designed to offer location accuracy up to 10 meters for public use and a more accurate service for strategic users.
• The new generation of satellites, starting with NVS-01, features indigenously developed atomic clocks with a longer 12-year mission life and transmits signals on the L1 frequency for enhanced interoperability.

ISRO Launch.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• NavIC was designed to provide superior coverage over the Indian landmass compared to the GPS, especially in challenging terrains like valleys and forests.
• Since July 2013, ISRO has launched 11 navigation satellites for the approximately Rs 2,250-crore system, but six have failed.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reported in 2018 that the development of consumer-end receivers for NavIC began only in 2017, years after the first satellite IRNSS-1A was launched in 2013.
• Failed replacement attempts included IRNSS-1H, which could not be placed in orbit due to a shield failure, and NVS-02, which suffered a propulsion system malfunction.
• The new NVS-03 satellite, like NVS-01, includes the L1 frequency, which is commonly used by GPS, facilitating integration with other systems and wearable devices.

Key Concepts Involved:

• NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation): India's indigenous regional satellite navigation system providing positioning services.
• IRNSS (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System): The formal name for the constellation of satellites that constitute the NavIC system.
• Atomic Clocks: Highly precise timekeeping devices essential for accurate distance measurement and positioning in satellite navigation systems.
• L1 Frequency: A specific radio frequency band used by satellite navigation systems, widely adopted for interoperability with devices like smartphones and smartwatches.