spacetoday.net: PSLV launches first Indian navigation satellite

Posted: Tue, Jul 2, 2013, 7:30 AM ET (1130 GMT)
PSLV launch of IRNSS-1A (ISRO)

An Indian PSLV rocket successfully launched that nation's first navigation satellite Monday night. The PSLV-XL rocket lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 2:11 pm EDT (1611 GMT, 11:41 pm local time) Monday carrying the first Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) satellite. The rocket released the satellite into an elliptical transfer orbit 20 minutes later. The 1,425-kilogram satellite will ultimately be located in geosynchronous orbit at 55 degrees east longitude, broadcasting timing signals to be used by navigation systems. The satellite is the first of seven planned for the IRNSS, which will eventually provide navigation services for India and surrounding regions independent of the American GPS and other satellite navigation systems.