All systems are a go for India's first nav sat launch

       June 29

       As I blog on this Saturday evening there is hectic activity at India's spaceport, Sriharikota, near Chennai for the launch of India's first nav sat on Monday at 11.41 p.m. It is a part of the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS), and in all a total of seven sats will be launched at six-month intervals, the final one being in 2014.

       The 69-hour final countdown kicked off on Saturday morning.       

       The primary role of these satellites to help in navigation and disaster management, and the system is completely independent of the US and Russian systems.

       The rocket which will carry these sats is Isro's highly dependable work horse, the four-stage Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle. But, it is the advanced version of the rocket designated as PSLV-XL with bigger strap-on motors. It is the same variant of the launch vehicle which successfully rocketed India to the moon in 2008.

       Data available from Sriharikota indicates that as of today---Saturday evening--all systems are a go for the launch. The lift off and subsequent events are being webcast live and I look forward to watching it. The launch commentators should make it exciting and honestly emulate the example of Nasa!

       God Speed and Good Luck.

       While arrangements are in full swing for a launch in India, Nasa is celebrating the success of its Iris launch on Friday.

       The purpose of the two-year mission is to study the sun in great detail.

        The science mission will be activitated in a month and the data will be analysed at Stanford University.

        It promises to throw more light on the sun.

        Super