GPS of India - NAVIC

Hello guys, you must have listened the name GPS. Have you ever wondered what basically GPS is ? Well GPS stands for global positioning system. Only few countries have their own GPS and those few countries provide the GPS services to whole world. But now India has developed its own GPS which is known as IRNSS. IRNSS stands for Indian regional Navigation satellite system. Or we can save it as India's own GPS system. It is also known as NAVIC. NAVIC stands for navigation with Indian constellation.

Why we needed our own GPS that is IRNSS or NAVIC ?

As we all know we had a Kargil war with Pakistan in the year 1999. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister of India at that time. To know the position of the opposition our Prime Minister requested United States of America to provide us with the services of their GPS. But United States of America refuse to do so. This made the task of defeating the Pakistani army a bit tougher but our army was capable enough to defeat the Pakistani army without using any GPS system.

This was the time when India felt the real need of our own GPS system.

Announcement for construction of IRNSS or NAVIC

Later on in the year 2006 , Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced that India will now develop its own Global positioning system. This was done by ISRO and other helping agencies.

Its construction started in year 2013. Within the next 3 years we were able to launch all the 7 satellites of the system. The last satellite was launched in the year 2016 and it started its work. The cost for whole project is said to be very minor because the other countries who have their own GPS have invested billions of dollars in their navigation system. But Indian scientists with their great brains have allowed India to develop our own navigation system at a very low cost of only 1420 crore rupees. Its only Rs. 12 per Indian Citizen. Isn't it amazing ?

Blueprint of IRNSS or NAVIC

Our GPS is a constellation of satellites placed in geosynchronous Orbit as well as geostationary Orbit. They operate on the principle of triangle and provides real time information by calculating time lag too. The applications of the GPS are like navigation, Search and rescue, telecommunication, metereogical services, disaster management etc.

IRNSS or NAVIC is comprised of 7 satellites, 3 in geostationary orbit and four and geosynchronous Orbit. The difference between geostationary orbit and geosynchronous orbit is that the geosynchronous orbit is placed anywhere above or below the equator and the geostationary orbit is placed on the equator. The number of satellites used in IRNSS are less as compared to the navigation system of USA, Russia or China. All of them use 20 + satellites. But number is never a good thing to wait quality of anything because despite of being less number of satellites Indian GPS is the best and one of the most accurate navigation system.

How it works ?

The three satellites that are placed on equator are at 34 degree, 83 degree and 132 degree longitude respectively. The 4 satellites that are placed in geoynchronous orbit are placed at 55 degree above equator, 55 degree below equator, 111 degree above equator and 111 degree below equator. This means that the geosynchronous satellites are placed are in the pairs of 2. I will make you understand the positioning of satellites with the help of this picture.

Extent of IRNSS or NAVIC

The geographical expanse of program is from Africa till beyond Malaka Strait. It will provide services of India land mass and the adjoining area of 1500 km on either side. It will provide two types of services that is standard positioning services for civilians and procedure positioning services for defence. ISRO is planning to have to stand by satellites for IRNSS. The applications will be in border management, disaster management, Search and rescue and also the navigation of missile as well as its tracking.

So this is all for today. Goodbye.