ISRO's C33 rocket soars into space, enables India master space navigation technology

The PSLV C33 rocket soared into space on Thursday afternoon after its launch from the Sriharikota launch station, giving India an edge in the crucial navigation technoology. The totally indigenous rocket ends the 12-year-long IRS satellite series, which has stabilised the navigation suystem. This launch is said to firm up the global positioning system also. The IRNSS satellite is expected to provide positional accuracy of better than 20 m over the Indian region and 1500 sq km around India. This is said to be the last in the satellite launch for the Indian navigational system and the first in the C33 series. The satellite will be put in orbit 286 km from the earth. The ISRO has already positioned six satellites in the orbit. The rocket is said to weigh 1425 kg. On board are satellites that will help in the GPS. With this launch, India becomes the sixth country to have mastered the space navigation system. It is the seventh in the IRSS series. It will put the (Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System)IRNSS 1G satellite in space, helping in the exploration of resources in the ground, ocean and space. As Kiran Kumar, Chairman ISRO, announced the success of the mission, he invited the Prime Minister to speak. Narendra Modi congratulated the space scientists on the occasion.