As NavIC loses atomic clock, India’s own GPS remains a challenge, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• ISRO announced that the atomic clock on IRNSS-1F stopped working on March 15, 2026, after completing its 10-year mission.
• NavIC, India's regional navigation system, aims to provide positioning data over the Indian subcontinent and up to 1500 km around it.
• The IRNSS constellation includes satellites IRNSS-1B, 1C, 1F, 1I, and NVS-01, which provide positioning data.
• Newer NavIC satellites feature indigenously developed atomic clocks and a longer mission life of 12 years.

Detailed Insights:

• NavIC was designed to offer location accuracy of around 10 meters over India, providing better signal availability than GPS in challenging terrains.
• Several atomic clock failures have occurred on initial NavIC satellites, necessitating the launch of replacement satellites to maintain system functionality.
• IRNSS-1A is almost defunct, while IRNSS-1B and 1C have exceeded their 10-year mission lives, impacting the overall constellation's effectiveness.
• NVS-02, a new-generation satellite, failed to reach its final orbit due to an electrical failure after being launched in January 2025.
• A 2018 report by the CAG highlighted delays in developing the user segment for NavIC, affecting its widespread adoption and utility.
• New-generation NavIC satellites transmit signals in the L1 frequency, enhancing interoperability with GPS and enabling use in wearable devices.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Atomic Clock: A clock that uses the resonant frequency of atoms to measure time with extreme accuracy.
• IRNSS (NavIC): India's regional navigation satellite system designed to provide accurate positioning data over the Indian subcontinent.
• L1, L5, and S Frequencies: Radio frequencies used by navigation satellites to transmit signals for positioning and data communication.

NavIC