The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch PSLV C-22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) of Sriharikota Range (SHAR), on Monday.
The launch will take place from the First Launch Pad (FLP) and is scheduled at 11.41 pm on Monday ISRO chairman K Radhakrishnan reached SHAR and performed poojas with the model of the rocket at Changala Parameswary Ammavari temple on Sunday evening.
SHAR director MYS Prasad, project director K Krishna, said, “There is no question of postponing the experiment unless in case of bad weather. The functioning of all systems in the rocket at all stages is perfect.’’
The 46.6 metre-long PSLV C-22 will be carrying 1,425 kg weighing seven artificial satellite sector called Indian Regional Navigation Satellite Sector-1 (IRNSS) which was designed by ISRO at its headquarters in Bengaluru.
The ISRO established one separate navigation centre (NC) at Belalu to monitor the movement of IRNSS-1. It is said that IRNSS-1 is the first Navigation Satellite being sent into the orbit by ISRO spending Rs 1,600 crore.
“IRNSS-1 will be working as main earth centre and will extend its navigation services like passing latest information to the customers of ISRO through highly sophisticated autumn watches established in the navigation centre. It also useful to rescue victims during natural calamities by passing accurate information to the vehicles, ships, aeroplanes and navigates the directions to the pilots over the exact place of flying aeroplane”, an official said. According to ISRO, the IRNSS-1 will be placed in the orbit at a distance of 36,000 km from the earth. The lifespan of the IRNSS-1 will be 10 years.
The experiment of another six satellites will be completed before 2015 within a gap of every six months.
“IRNSS-1 is an important mission in the annals of Indian Space programme as it will not only be useful for Indian Army in various disciplines but also help to develop Global Positioning System (GPS) as ISRO going to prove once again India’s reliance in space research”, said the chairman.