PSLV-C41 being assembled at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota
CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation will launch IRNSS-1I -- the eighth satellite in the NavIC navigation satellite constellation -- on April 12, an update on ISRO’s website said on Friday evening.
ISRO’s workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C41) will take off from the first launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 4.04 am on that day carrying IRNSS-1I. The launch will be PSLV’s 20th flight with ‘XL’ configuration.
IRNSS-1I is expected to replace IRNSS-1A, the first of the seven navigation satellites, which was rendered ineffective after its three rubidium atomic clocks failed.
In August 2017, ISRO launched IRNSS-1H as a replacement, but the mission failed after the heat shield covering the satellite failed to separate.
The IRNSS-1I mission will happen two weeks after ISRO launched GSAT-6A onboard GSLV Mk-II. Though the rocket placed GSAT-6A in orbit, ISRO lost communication with the satellite.