The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the country’s sixth navigation satellite IRNSS-1F from the spaceport at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The navigation satellite is put into the intended orbit in a successful launch. Now India is just one step away from having its own regional navigation satellite system that will be on par with the US-based Global Positioning System.

Till date, India has launched five regional navigational satellites (IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C, ID and 1E) as part of a constellation of seven satellites to provide accurate position information service to users across the country and the region, extending up to an area of 1,500 km.

The PSLV, in its 33rd consecutive successful flight, placed the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System 1F, the latest navigation satellite, into precise orbit 20.2 minutes after the lift-off as the ISRO scientists at the Mission Control Centre broke into applause.

Mission Director B Jayakumar said “The sixth satellite of our own navigational system has been placed very safely and very precisely. The vehicle (PSLV C-32) has done the job wonderfully and the inclination achieved is very close to the target.” Along with the navigation payload and ranging payload, IRNSS-1F also carries a “highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock” with it. The payload will transmit navigation service signals to users.