ISRO IRNSS-1H: All you need to know about India's GPS navigation system in space

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday launched India's first private navigation satellite ‘IRNSS-1H’ to augment the existing seven satellites of the NavIC constellation. The launch happened at 19:00 Hrs from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The satellite will be launched on board PSLV-C39, IRNSS-1H which is the ‘back-up’ navigation satellite for IRNSS-1A, one of the seven satellites in the NavIC constellation, as its three rubidium atomic clocks on board had stopped functioning.

The IRNSS-1H launched on PSLV-C39, IRNSS-1H will be a back-up navigation satellite for IRNSS-1A, one of the seven satellites in the constellation, as its three rubidium atomic clocks on board had stopped functioning.

"The 29-hr countdown operations of PSLV-C39/IRNSS-1H mission started on Wednesday at 14:00 hrs IST," the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

The Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) had on Tuesday cleared the 29-hour countdown. The launch vehicle PSLV-C39 will use the 'XL' version of PSLV equipped with six strap-ons, each carrying 12 tons of propellant.

Here is all you need to know about the IRNSS-1H - 

#The 1,400 kg spacecraft was built and tested by ISRO along with a consortium of six small and medium industries.

#The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is an independent regional navigation satellite system developed by India on par with US-based GPS.

#The system was named 'NavIC' (Navigation with Indian Constellation) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It offers services like terrestrial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, navigation aide for hikers and travellers, visual and voice navigation for drivers.

#ISRO had launched seven satellites - IRNSS-1G on April 28, 2016, IRNSS-1F (March 10, 2016), IRNSS-1E (January 20, 2016), IRNSS-1D (March 28, 2015), IRNSS-1C (October 16, 2014), IRNSS-1B (April 4, 2014) and IRNSS-1A on July 1, 2013.

#The total cost of all the seven satellites was Rs 1,420 crore, as per ISRO

Also Read: IRNSS-1H: All you need to know about India's GPS navigation system in space