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- Applications of IRNSS
- International dimensions of Navigation System
- GSAT-32 satellite to replace GSAT-6A
| Components of IRNSS
IRNSS comprises of a space segment and a ground segment. The IRNSS space segment consists of EIGHT satellites, with three satellites in geostationary orbit and five satellites in inclined geosynchronous orbit. IRNSS ground segment is responsible for navigation parameter generation and transmission, satellite control, ranging and integrity monitoring, and timekeeping. Applications of IRNSS Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation Disaster Management Vehicle tracking and fleet management Integration with mobile phones Precise Timing Mapping and Geodetic data capture Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travelers Visual and voice navigation for drivers International dimensions of Navigation System The significance of IRNSS cannot be underplayed. Navigation systems, once used by the most powerful militaries around the world, are also being used by civilians through their smartphones. In addition, many militaries are using them for a wide range of applications. India’s ability to develop its own system without having to rely on any external source will go a long way in securing itself. The US-managed GPS became available for large-scale use a decade ago or so, although the importance of location precision technologies in the military arena with an emphasis on accumulating hard power has prompted many countries, particularly in Asia, to develop their own versions of GPS and other space-based navigation systems. Some of the proven and more popular systems include the Chinese Beidou, Russian Glonass, and Japanese Quazi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) that is making slow progress. The best known and currently the most widely used navigation satellite system is the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), which became operational two decades ago. Russia too offers global coverage with its Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). Europe is establishing its own global system, Galileo. Although the full constellation will be ready only by 2019, it plans to begin some services with a reduced number of satellites by the end of next year. China’s Beidou satellite navigation system, which launched its first navigation satellite in 2000, plans to have full global coverage by 2020. China has already launched 16 satellites and four experimental ones onto space as part of the Beidou system. In spite of the sovereignty and territorial disputes, including recent flare-ups with several Southeast Asian countries, China has been successful in selling its system in many countries in the region. Among other countries, Thailand, Laos, and Brunei have already subscribed to the Beidou navigation system. Pakistan and Sri Lanka in South Asia have also opted for the Chinese navigation system. Russia’s GLONASS was a response to the US’ GPS, and the GLONASS is run by Russia’s space forces. It has a 24 satellite-constellation, with 21 in operation and 3 as back-ups. Placed at an altitude of 19,000 km, each of the satellites orbit the earth in 11 hours and 15 minutes. The satellites are positioned in a manner to allow at least five satellites to be in view at any given time. India entered into a pact with Russia on satellite navigation collaboration way back in 2005 although it took them another six years to sign an agreement for India to receive military signals from Russia. In fact, though there have been several agreements signed in this regard; the Russian government has been unwilling to part with “precision codes” (which provides data to navigate up to one meter). Given the growing importance of location data for a variety of purposes including in the civilian, disaster management, and military domain, India cannot be lagging behind. A decision by the ISRO to involve the Indian industry in developing communication satellites and PSLVs will lighten the burden on the ISRO while helping to refocus their attention on some big science projects and remote sensing satellites. This move will also step up the process of establishing a much-needed strategic industry around outer space. Security of the nation has become one of the inevitable concerns and dependence on USGPS or Russia’s GLONASS can be a national threat. Independency is a key to security and IRNSS will not only secure Indian Territory but also boost confidence among Indian neighbors. GAGAN The Ministry of Civil Aviation has decided to implement an indigenous Satellite-Based Regional GPS Augmentation System also known as the Space-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) as part of the Satellite-Based Communications, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS)/Air Traffic Management (ATM) plan for civil aviation. The Indian SBAS system has been given the acronym GAGAN – GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation. A national plan for satellite navigation including the implementation of the Technology Demonstration System (TDS) over the Indian air space as a proof of concept has been prepared jointly by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and ISRO. TDS was successfully completed during 2007 by installing eight Indian Reference Stations (INRESs) at eight Indian airports and linked to the Master Control Center (MCC) located near Bangalore. The next major milestone in GAGAN is the conduct of PSAT (Preliminary System Acceptance Testing) which has been successfully completed in Dec 2010. The first GAGAN navigation payload is slated on GSAT-8 which was launched on May 21, 2011. The second GAGAN payload was launched on GSAT-10 in the first quarter of 2012. The third GAGAN payload is planned on another GEO satellite. The Russian system is known as GLONASS and the European Union’s Galileo and Chinese Beidou are among others. Indian space agency ISRO will launch the GSAT-32 satellite to replace GSAT-6A which stopped communicating a few days after its launch. Download 2.63 Mb. Share with your friends:
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