Chennai, March 19 (IANS) India is likely to put into orbit its fourth regional navigation satellite on March 28, with the country's space agency now in the process of loading the rocket with the satellite, an official said on Thursday.
"The process of integrating the IRNSS-1D (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System) is underway and it is expected to be completed today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday)," an official of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) told IANS, preferring anonymity.
India's rocket port is located at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh, around 80 km from here.
"The rocket launch is tentatively fixed at 5.19 p.m. on March 28. However, a final decision will be taken after testing the rocket and the satellite and everything is found sound," he added.
Following that, ISRO's Launch Authorisation Board (LAB) will meet and give the final nod for the rocket's blast-off.
The 1,425 kg IRNSS-1D will zoom into the space atop the Indian rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL).
Originally the satellite was to be launched on March 9.
However, on March 4, ISRO deferred the launch after it found that one of the telemetry transmitters in the IRNSS-1D was not working properly.
India has so far launched three regional navigational satellites 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.
Though the full system comprises nine satellites -- seven in orbit and two on the ground as stand-by -- the navigation services could be made operational with four satellites, ISRO officials said.
Each satellite costs around Rs.150 crore and the PSLV-XL version rocket costs around Rs.130 crore. The seven rockets would involve an outlay of around Rs.910 crore.
The entire IRNSS constellation of seven satellites is planned to be completed by 2015.
The first satellite IRNSS-1A was launched in July 2013, the second IRNSS-1B in April 2014 and the third on October 16, 2014.
Once the regional navigation system is in place, India need not be dependent on other platforms.
The Champions Trophy is going to start from today. Before the start of the tournament, a big cont
On Friday, there was a terrorist attack on the embassy of Pakistan in Kabul, the capital of Afgha
New Zealand will continue playing aggressive cricket: McCullum
Melbourne, March 29 (IANS) Despite their bruising loss to Australia in the cricket World Cup fi
Avatar Fire And Ash Trailer: 'Avatar 3' trailer released, new enemy seen in Pandora
The trailer of the third part of 'Avatar', one of Hollywood's most famous films, 'Avatar 3', has
Karnataka Hijab Controversy: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the state govern
Rapid demographic change is also happening in Nepal's border districts with India
Along with the bordering Udham Singh Nagar, Champawat and Pithoragarh, now the Nepalese districts
ED gets names of leaders, police and businessmen who helped Vikas Dubey, inquiry started
The ED has started an investigation into the illegal assets of Jai Bajpai, notorious for developm
The investigation of BJP and Congress's complaint regarding the ruckus and scuffle in the Parliam
On completion of one year of consecration of the idol of Ramlala, the annual ceremony will be cel
In Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan has made a new move to save his chair. Imran Khan has give
