Stage set for launch of IRNSS-1E satellite on Jan 20

IRNSS-1E, the fifth satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System 'IRNSS-1E', will be launched on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C31 from the spaceport of Sriharikota on January 20.

IRNSS-1E is scheduled for launch at 09.31 am from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, about 100 km from Chennai, city-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said today.

Stating that IRNSS-1E carries two types of payloads navigation and ranging payload, ISRO said navigation payload will transmit navigation service signals to the users, and will be operating in L5-band and S-band.

The ranging payload consists of a C-band transponder which facilitates accurate determination of the range of the satellite, it said, adding that IRNSS-1E also carries Corner Cube Retro Reflectors for laser ranging.

A highly accurate Rubidium atomic clock is part of the navigation payload of the satellite. IRNSS-1E is the fifth navigation satellite of the seven satellites constituting the IRNSS space segment, and has a lift-off mass of 1425 kg.