India places NavIC in satellite IRNSS-1I, successful launch

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), April 12: India early on Thursday put into orbit navigation satellite IRNSS-1I, a part of Indian satellite navigation system NavIC in copy-book style.The 1,425 kg satellite was carried into space by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket s XL variant."The satellite is in good health. The first orbit raising operation of IRNSS-1I is planned to be done at 4.15 a.m. on April 13, 2018," a senior ISRO official said.On Friday the navigation satellite will be moved up to a perigee height (nearest point to earth) of 322 km and apogee height of 35,887 km, the Indian space agency said.Ultimately the satellite will be placed in a Geostationary orbit at 36,000 km height.On Thursday morning at 4.04 a.m., the four stage/engine PSLV-XL rocket, standing 44.4 metres tall and weighing 321 tonnes, blasted off from the first launch pad.