Significance of ISRO’s Newly Launched NavIC Satellite in Regional Navigation

The Indian Space Research Organisation carried out the sixth launch of 2023, launching a 2232-kilogram satellite from its NavIC series into space. The NVS-1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan...

Prateek Mattoo
May 31, 2023
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The Indian Space Research Organisation carried out the sixth launch of 2023, launching a 2232-kilogram satellite from its NavIC series into space. The NVS-1 was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota aboard the GSLV F12. The NVS-1 satellite is the first of the next-generation NavIC satellites designed to improve the country’s navigation capabilities. The system was created in response to the country’s rising need for better location, navigation, and timing in the civil aviation sector. In this article, we will learn about NavIC Satellite and its significance in Indian Geometry.

What is NavIC?

Also known as Navigation with Indian Constellation, NavIC is an independent stand-alone navigation satellite which is developed and deployed by the Indian Space Research Organization. Originally approved in 2006, NavIC was expected to be completed in the year 2011 to become operational in 2018. NavIC consists of 8 satellites which cover the Indian Landmass to its extent of up to 1500 km. NavIC also known as navigation with Indian Constellation satellites is currently being used in public vehicle tracing and tracking for providing emergency warning alerts to fishermen venturing into the deep sea where there is no terrestrial network connectivity, and for tracking and providing information related to natural disasters.

Significance of ISROs Newly Launched NavIC Satellite in Regional Navigation

Significance of NavIC for India

It provides real-time information for normal positioning services available to civilians as well as restricted services for permitted users like the military.
It will aid India’s scientific and technical advancement.
It will make the Indian Armed Forces self-sufficient and reliant.
In addition to comprehensive coverage, one of the project’s proposed future purposes is to share the initiative with the SAARC nations. This would aid in the greater integration of the regional navigation system and is a diplomatic gesture from India to the countries of the region.
It is critical for the country’s sovereignty and strategic needs.

Significance of ISROs Newly Launched NavIC Satellite in Regional Navigation 2

About Second-Generation Satellites

Satellite Name	NVS-01, the first of ISRO’s NVS series of payloads.
Weight	2,232 kg
Launch Vehicle	Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) rocket
Onboard Technology	Rubidium atomic clock, developed by Space Application Centre-Ahmedabad.
Frequency Signals	It will send signals in a third frequency, L1, besides the L5 and S frequency signals that the existing satellites provide
Mission Life	More than 12 years for second-generation satellites, the existing satellites have a mission life of 10 years.

What’s new in the second-generation NavIC satellite?

Atomic Clock: The satellite will be equipped with a Rubidium atomic clock. Space Application Centre-Ahmedabad developed the space-qualified Rubidium atomic clock on its own. It is a critical technology that only a few countries have.

Longer Mission Life: The mission life of the second-generation satellites will be more than 12 years. The current satellites have a 10-year mission life.

ISROs Newly Launched NavIC Satellite in Regional Navigation

L1 signals optimised for usage in wearable devices: In addition to the L5 and S frequencies, the second-generation satellites will transmit signals on a third frequency, L1. The L1 frequency is one of the most regularly used in the Global Positioning System (GPS), and its use in wearable devices and personal trackers that use low-power, single-frequency circuits will rise.

Significance of Atomic Clock in Second-Generation NavIC Satellite

Using the atomic clocks on board, a satellite-based positioning system calculates the location of objects by precisely measuring the time it takes for a signal to travel to and from them. After their onboard atomic clocks broke, several existing satellites stopped delivering position data. Only four IRNSS satellites can now provide location services. The remaining satellites can only provide messaging services, such as disaster warnings or prospective fishing zone messages for fishermen.

Why is India promoting NavIC?

According to India, the goal of NavIC is to eliminate reliance on foreign satellite systems for navigation service requirements, particularly in strategic industries. Depending on systems such as GPS and GLONASS, which are operated by respective nations’ defence organisations, may not always be trustworthy, and civilian services may be degraded or refused.

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