NavIC: India’s Crucial Satellite Navigation System Journey

Why in the news?

ISRO reported a partial failure of its navigation satellite NVS-02 (IRNSS-1K) due to engine malfunction, marking the latest setback in India’s indigenous NavIC system aimed at providing reliable navigation for defense and civilian purposes.

NavIC: India's Crucial Satellite Navigation System Journey

Introduction and Development:

  • NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) is an indigenous satellite navigation system developed by ISRO to meet defense and civilian needs.
  • Conceived after the Kargil War (1999) when India faced restrictions accessing GPS, it aimed for full deployment by 2016.
  • The first satellite, IRNSS-1A, was launched in 2013, with a total of 11 satellites deployed by January 2025.

Setbacks and Technical Hurdles

  • Only five satellites are currently operational, with several facing failures.
  • A key issue has been the malfunctioning atomic clocks, which impacted multiple satellites, including IRNSS-1A.
  • The recent engine failure of NVS-02 (IRNSS-1K) resulted in a sub-optimal orbit.
  • Despite modifications, hardware challenges persist, causing partial failures in 6 out of 11 satellites launched.

Significance and Future Plans

  • NavIC provides Standard Positioning Service (commercial) and Restricted Service (defense) over India and surrounding regions.
  • It ensures position accuracy better than 20 meters, vital for military reliability over global systems like GPS.
  • In 2023, Qualcomm agreed to support NavIC in its chipsets.
  • ISRO plans to launch three more second-generation satellites (NVS-03, 04, and 05) to enhance services despite recent setbacks.

NavIC vs GPS:

  • Accuracy:
  • NavIC provides accuracy within 5 meters, while GPS offers accuracy within 20 meters.
  • Coverage:
  • NavIC is a regional system covering India and 1,500 km beyond its borders.
  • GPS is a global system accessible worldwide.
  • Development:
  • NavIC was developed by ISRO (India).
  • GPS was developed by the US Department of Defense.
  • Satellite Constellation:
  • NavIC operates with 7 satellites, while GPS uses 31 satellites.