ISRO Commences Countdown for Launch of Navigation Satellite

Sriharikota: Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday at 7.12 am commenced the 27.5 hour countdown for the launch of a navigation satellite on board a GSLV rocket here on May 29. The Bengaluru-headquartered space agency is all geared up to launch the second-generation navigation satellite series, a significant launch which would ensure the continuity of NavIC services -- an Indian regional satellite navigation system, similar to GPS, providing accurate and real-time navigation in India and a region extending to 1,500 km around the mainland. The 51.7 metre tall Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle, on its 15th flight, would carry the navigation satellite NVS-01 weighing 2,232 kg on Monday at 10.42 am from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre here, about 130 km from Chennai. The NVS-01 carries navigation payloads L1, L5 and S bands and in comparison with the previous one, the second-generation satellite would also carry an indigeneously developed rubidium atomic clock.