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1st LD Writethru: India launches fifth navigation satellite

Xinhua, January 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

India Wednesday successfully launched its fifth navigation satellite from the spaceport of Sriharikota in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The India Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)-1E was launched by the state-owned Indian Space Research Organisation on board its indigenous polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV).

The PSLV blasted off at 9:31 a.m. (local time) and the satellite was successfully put into space around 9:50 a.m. (local time), a senior official said, on condition of anonymity.

The 1,500 kg IRNSS-1E is part of a constellation of seven satellites that together will form what is said to be India's version of America's global positioning system.

Till last year, India had launched four other navigation satellites - the first being in 2013 - and two other satellites are expected to be launched this year.

Once it's in place, the navigation system will provide Indian users accurate position information service across the country and the region, extending up to an area of 1,500 km.

The lifespan of the satellite navigation system is around 12 years, but it would cut down India's dependency on foreign platforms. Endit