PSLV C24 launches India's 2nd navigation satellite

This was the 25th consecutively successful mission of PSLV. The 'XL' configuration of PSLV was used for this mission.

Previously, the same configuration of the vehicle was used five times to launch Chandrayaan-1, GSAT-12, RISAT-1, IRNSS-1A and Mars Orbiter Spacecraft.

"After a flight of about 19 minutes, IRNSS-1B Satellite, weighing 1432 kg, was injected to an elliptical orbit of 283 km X 20,630 km, which is very close to the intended orbit," the ISRO said in a statement.

"ISRO's Master Control Facility (at Hassan, Karnataka) assumed the control of the satellite. In the coming days, five orbit manoeuvres will be conducted from Master Control Facility to position the satellite in its Geosynchronous Circular Orbit at 55 deg East longitude," read the statement.

In a message to K. Radhakrishnan, Chairman of ISRO, the President said, “My heartiest congratulations to you and your entire team at the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for the successful launch of PSLV-C24, carrying the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)-1B."

"Kindly convey my greetings to the members of your team of scientists, engineers, technologists and all others associated with this great mission. Our nation is grateful for their hard work and proud of their accomplishments," Mukherjee said.

IRNSS-1A, the first satellite of the constellation, was successfully launched by PSLV on July 2, 2013. IRNSS-1A is functioning satisfactorily from its designated geosynchronous orbital position.

A number of ground stations responsible for the generation and transmission of navigation parameters, satellite control, satellite ranging and monitoring, etc., have been established in as many as 15 locations across the country.
 

<div style="\\&quot;font-family:" arial,="" sans-serif;="" font-size:="" 13px;\\"=""> The ISRO said the entire IRNSS constellation of seven satellites is planned to be completed by 2015-16.