Clocks calling time on Navic; ISRO now building indigenous devices , Pg11

Key Highlights:

• ISRO plans to launch at least three satellites by the end of 2026 to replenish the NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) system [Indian GPS].
• A key challenge is the development of indigenous high-precision atomic clocks, essential for accurate timing and location services.
• Currently, only two NavIC satellites have functional atomic clocks, with five satellites completely defunct due to clock failures.
• The atomic clocks in the current NavIC constellation were imported from SpectraTime.
• ISRO has launched NVS-01 in May 2023 which is working as intended, and NVS-02 in January 2025 which failed to reach the required orbit.

Detailed Insights:

• The NavIC system, similar to GLONASS, Beidou, GPS, and Galileo, aims to provide location services within a 1,500 km radius of India.
• NavIC is intended as a fallback system if access to foreign navigation constellations is denied during global conflicts.
• ISRO will install indigenously developed rubidium clocks in the next series of IRNSS satellites to replace the aging fleet.
• Each new satellite will have five clocks, but the development faces procurement challenges and delays due to the need to import key components.
• The current IRNSS satellites have a rated shelf life of 10 years, with some nearing or exceeding this limit.

Key Concepts Involved:

• NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation): India's regional satellite navigation system providing accurate location services.
• Atomic Clock: A high-precision clock that uses the constant frequency of atomic resonance to measure time accurately.
• Rubidium Clock: A type of atomic clock that uses the element rubidium to maintain precise timekeeping.