ISRO releases spec for IRNSS standard positioning service:
Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)
IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India. It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary, which is its primary service area. IRNSS will provide two types of services, namely, Standard Positioning Service (SPS) and Restricted Service (RS) and is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than 20 m in the primary service area.
The IRNSS Signal-in-Space Interface Control Document (ICD) for Standard Positioing Service (SPS) is released to the public to provide the essential information on the IRNSS signal-in-space, to facilitate research & development and aid the commercial use of the IRNSS signals for navigation-based applications.
http://www.isro.org/satellites/navigationsatellites.aspxhttp://irnss.isro.gov.in/
The urgency with which ISRO is trying to get IRNSS up and working seem to indicate the program's strategic (read military) significance. No other domestic remote sensing satellite have been launched since April 2012 (excluding SARAL) and none seem to be in the pipeline atleast till all 7 IRNSS sats are up by the mid of next year, a gap of more than 3 years.
I just saw this
on ISAC, Bangalore. Apparently, IRNSS is now being projected as a 11 satellite constellation with the coverage extended to cover most of Asia pacific region. PM's speech on SPOT-7 launch did suggest that coverage would be extended, but no provision was made in the budget for this. I guess that's what I like the most about our space program- there's always a bag full of surprises, you never know what's in store next!
I just saw this on ISAC, Bangalore. Apparently, IRNSS is now being projected as a 11 satellite constellation with the coverage extended to cover most of Asia pacific region. PM's speech on SPOT-7 launch did suggest that coverage would be extended, but no provision was made in the budget for this. I guess that's what I like the most about our space program- there's always a bag full of surprises, you never know what's in store next!
This isn't something new, the Indian Government had this plan more than four years ago.
http://www.unoosa.org/pdf/icg/2010/ICG5/18october/05.pdf page. 16
