The 1425-kg IRNSS-1G, the seventh satellite in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), was successfully launched on Thursday afternoon from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SHAR), Sriharikota. It was the 35th flight (PSLV-C33) of ISRO’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, the 34th consecutively successful launch mission of PSLV, and the 13th in its ‘XL’ configuration.

After PSLV-C33 lift-off at 1250 hrs (12:50 pm) IST from the First Launch Pad, the subsequent important flight events, namely, strap-on ignitions and separations, first stage separation, second stage ignition, heat-shield separation, second stage separation, third stage ignition and separation, fourth stage ignition and satellite injection, took place as planned.

After a flight of 19 minutes 42 seconds, IRNSS-1G was injected into an elliptical orbit of 283 km X 20,718 km incline, at an angle of 17.867 degree to the equator (very close to the intended orbit), following which the satellite successfully separated from the PSLV fourth stage.

After separation, the solar panels of IRNSS-1G were deployed automatically. ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan, Karnataka, took over the control of the satellite. In the coming days, four orbit manoeuvres will be conducted from MCF to position the satellite in the Geostationary Orbit at 129.5 deg East longitude.

IRNSS-1G is the seventh of the seven satellites constituting the space segment of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, ID, IE and 1F, the first six satellites of the constellation, were successfully launched by PSLV on July 02, 2013, April 04, 2014, October 16, 2014, March 28, 2015, January 20, 2016 and March 10, 2016 respectively. All the six satellites are functioning satisfactorily from their designated orbital positions.

IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide position information in the Indian region and 1,500 km around the Indian mainland. IRNSS provides two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Services (SPS) – provided to all users and Restricted Services (RS) – provided to authorised users.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked and congratulated all the ISRO scientists for completing the IRNSS constellation and dedicated IRNSS to the nation as ‘NavIC’ (Navigation Indian Constellation). He appreciated India’s space community for making the country proud through such achievements which have helped in improving the life of the common man.