The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) began a 67-hour countdown at 6:32 a.m. on Monday ahead of the launch of the third regional navigation satellite, the IRNSS-1C.
The 1400-kg-plus spacecraft is slated to be flown on October 16, Thursdsy, at 1.32 a.m. on the PSLV-C26 launch vehicle from the space port located in coastal Andhra Pradesh. It is part of a seven-satellite IRNSS constellation that is being put in orbit over the next two years.
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is designed to provide precise location- and time-based services to a variety of users on land, sea and air across the Indian region - akin to the global services of the U.S. GPS.
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The earlier planned launched on October 10
IRNSS 1C with a lift-off mass of 1,425.4 kg would be shot into a sub Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (sub GTO).
As part of its aspirations to build a regional navigational system equivalent to Global Positioning System of the US, ISRO plans to send seven satellites to put in place the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System.
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IRNSS 1C spacecraft photographed during ElectroMagnetic Interference & ElectroMagnetic Compatibility (EMI-EMC) tests >pic.twitter.com/Usouuxp50c
— ISRO (@isro) >October 11, 2014
The first two satellites in the series, >IRNSS 1A and >IRNSS 1B were launched from Sriharikota on July 1 2013 and April 4 this year respectively.
ISRO needs to launch at least four of the seven satellites to start operations of the IRNSS, ISRO officials said.
(With inputs from PTI)