Losing the way, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• ISRO's NavIC navigation system is facing operational challenges with only three satellites providing PNT services.
• A minimum of four satellites are needed for effective PNT, but an atomic clock failure on IRNSS-1F on March 13 exacerbated the issue.
• First-generation satellites used Swiss SpectraTime rubidium atomic clocks, which have experienced failures.
• NVS-02, a second-generation satellite launch, failed due to incorrect orbit placement.
• ISRO transitioned to indigenous rubidium atomic clocks starting with NVS-01 in May 2023.

Detailed Insights:

• NavIC's development was partly motivated by the U.S.'s denial of GPS data during the 1999 Kargil War, primarily functioning as a defense program.
• The absence of a national space law results in ISRO acting as both designer and operator, straining the agency's resources.
• India lacks dedicated entities like the GPS Directorate or EUSPA for managing its navigation constellation.
• New generation rubidium clocks face procurement issues, prompting ISRO to consider equipping satellites with five atomic clocks instead of three.
• The constellation is degrading faster than replenishment due to issues with PSLV, budget constraints, and focus on other projects.
• The government encourages electronics manufacturers to support the L1 band of the NVS series for better GPS interoperability.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PNT (Position, Navigation, and Timing): Technology providing location, direction, and time information.
• Rubidium Atomic Clock: A highly accurate timekeeping device used in satellites.
• GPS (Global Positioning System): A U.S.-owned satellite-based navigation system.
• ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation): The space agency of India.

NavIC