IRNSS to be fully operational by end of 2016

Dr M Annadurai, Director, Indian Space Research Organisation’s Satellite Centre, Bengaluru, said that once the IRNSS-1G satellite was launched into space, its solar panel would be deployed and ISRO would do some manoeuvres to place the satellite in the correct orbit.

“We will conduct several tests in IRNSS-1G to check the functions of various systems as we want to ensure that all systems work well. We will validate functioning of several systems in the seven-satellite constellation before declaring it fully operational,” he said. 

Annadurai also said that engineers would do field tests in various places across the country to test several parameters like availability of signals and accuracy of data from IRNSS. 

Meanwhile, the 51 hour 30 minutes countdown for launch of PSLV-C33, which would carry IRNSS-1G satellite commenced at 9.20 am on Tuesday, with the Mission Readiness Review (MRR) committee and Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) clearing the mission for launch. 

ISRO would launch the 1,425 kg IRNSS-1G satellite from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 12.50 pm on April 28.