An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) launched the seventh and final IRNSS navigation satellite, IRNSS-1G, on 28th April from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR, Sriharikota. The launch marked the 34th consecutive successful mission for PSLV and the 13th in the XL configuration with six strap-on boosters. It was the third PSLV launch this year.

IRNSS-1G is targeted to operate from a geostationary orbit at 129.5°E. It joins two other units in geostationary orbit, while the four other members of the constellation are in inclined geosynchronous orbit. The IRNSS satellites carry a navigation payload operating in the L5 band (1176.45MHz) and S band (2492.028MHz), plus a C-band transponder for ranging.

IRNSS deployment began with the launch of the -1A satellite in July 2013. The sixth satellite, -1F, was launched less than two months ago, on 10th March.

IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system designed to provide position information with an accuracy of less than 20m in the Indian region and 1,500km around the Indian mainland. The system will provide two types of service: Standard Positioning Services (SPS), provided to all users, and encrypted Restricted Services (RS), provided only to authorised users.

India’s next PSLV launch is scheduled for June with the Cartosat 2C Earth observation satellite as the primary payload.