‘Mission Symbolises India’s Assured Access to Space’

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C25) successfully putting the 1,350-kg Mars Orbiter first into its earth-bound orbit on Tuesday “symbolised India’s assured access to space” and it proved that “we can do any type of mission,” said S. Ramakrishnan, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. “With meticulous planning and team work, no mission is beyond our capability.”

VSSC director S. Ramakrishnan says the project is yet another daunting mission with over 400 people working on it. The cost of PSLV launch vehicle has been estimated at Rs 100 crore. “We hope to get the launch vehicle ready along with the integration as we race to the countdown”, Ramakrishnan told DC.
                                     

Another top official of VSSC said the series of seven navigational satellites were the equivalent of what the US had when they launched Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites in earth’s orbit.  If the US had a total 23 satellites for GPS,‘Mission Symbolises India has seven.

“With IRNSS 1B, we will be covering a little more of Pakistan, China and Sri Lanka in the navigational process. With IRNSS 1A already in orbit, we are tapping its full potential as we have already stabilized it.

“IRNSS 1B applications include terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, disaster management, vehicle tracking, terrestrial navigation aid for travelers and visual and voice navigation for drivers and much more”, said a top official of VSCC.