The successful launch of the country's first satellite for GPS has added smiles to many faces at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. Launch vehicle PSLV-C22, the rocket that carried IRNSS-1A navigation satellite, expelled its precious luggage 20 minutes into the flight amid an orange trail of fire.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K. Radhakrishnan expressed that the nation has entered a new era. India is now part of an elite group of countries that have their own GPS system. The rocket launch was especially memorable due to its midnight launch, as opposed to a day mission.
It was sight to behold, witnessed in person by many scientists and reporters present at the site. The scientists were visibly relieved as they started clapping soon after the satellite's ejection from the rocket.
The IRNSS-1A satellite will now make disaster and fleet management easier with its aerial, marine and terrestrial navigation services. This system will be able to provide information about positioning inside and also up to 1,500kms from the country's boundaries.
(AW-Sruthi)
