Launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H unsuccessful

Launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H unsuccessful

India's first private sector built satellite IRNSS-1H today failed after its launch from Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.

The new satellite was meant to augment the existing 7 satellites of the NavIC constellation. The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is an independent regional navigation satellite system developed by India on par with US-based GPS.

ISRO chairman AS Kiran Kumar said the mission was however unsuccessful.

"Launch mission has not succeeded. Heat shield has not separated as a result of which satellite is inside the 4th stage. We are getting into the details of what has happened," he said.

The IRNSS-1H satellite was to have been slung into orbit at around 507 km above the earth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had named 'NavIC' (Navigation with Indian Constellation) which offers services like terrestrial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking and fleet management, navigation aide for hikers and travellers, visual and voice navigation for drivers.

Launched on board PSLV-C39, IRNSS-1H is a back-up navigation satellite for IRNSS-1A, one of the seven satellites in the constellation, as its three rubidium atomic clocks on board had stopped functioning.

The launch happened at 7 pm from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.