Sriharikota sources stated that the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) today launched the IRNSS-1I navigation satellite, the eighth such satellite to be a part of a constellation, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
According to sources PSLV-C41/IRNSS-1I Mission blasted off at 4.04 am from the first launch pad at the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre. Meanwhile it was a normal lift-off, ISRO officials said. IRNSS-1I is expected to replace IRNSS-1A, the first of the seven navigation satellites that was rendered ineffective after its three rubidium atomic clocks failed. Moreover the seven satellites are part of the NavIC navigation satellite constellation.
Presently
the launch is ISRO's second attempt at sending a replacement satellite.
Meanwhile the previous mission of a PSLV carrying IRNSS-1H in August last year
failed after the heat shield covering the satellite failed to separate. Furthermore
the IRNSS-1I mission takes place two weeks after the space agency launched
GSAT-6A on board GSLV Mk-II. Though the rocket placed GSAT-6A in orbit, the
ISRO lost communication with the satellite within two days.
