NavIC - Aim UPSC

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) has an operational named called as NavIC and it’s acronym is Navigation with Indian Constellation.

WHY DID WE CREATE NavIC?
Indian Military in 1999 was dependent on American Global Position System (GPS). We were then fighting a war against Pakistan which is known as Kargil War. We asked for help but we were not helped and we lost our soldiers but still we won the war.
After this we decided to create our own Constellation system for communication purposes. In 2013 the Indian Government approved the project.

WHAT ARE IT’S PRIMARY SERVICES?

**1. STANDARD POSITIONING SYSTEM (SPS) -> GPS FACILITY FOR EVERYONE**

**2. RESTRICTED SERVICES (RS) -> MILITARY PURPOSES ONLY**

It is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than 20m in the primary services areas.
For the two different purpose two different signal bandwidths of signals are going to be used namely L5 and S- Band.

SOME APPLICATIONS OF NavIC / IRNSS.
1. To facilitate easier and better Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation.
2. Disaster Management and forecasting weather or the loss by the Disaster.
3. Vehicle tracking system and fleet management (software domain)
4. Integration with mobile phones to be available for all citizens.
5. Precise Timing or Accurate Timing of any occurrence
6. Mapping and Geodetic (related to land surveying) data capture
7.Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers, travelers or such people
8. Visual and voice navigation for drivers which will make driving easier

WHAT DOES IT COMPRISE OF?
It is said to be comprised of 9 satellite with 3–GEO and 6–GSO Satellites. Currently in the the orbit we have 3–GEO and 4–GSO satellites, 2–GSO are on Ground as a Stand–by as the last two failed while launching.

Red Colored ones are **GSO** Satellites and there are 4
Black Colored ones are **GEO** Satellites and there are 3

WHAT ARE GEO AND GSO SATELLITES?
The main difference is Geostationary Satellite (GEO) and Geosynchronous Satellite (GSO) is that GEO have a fixed plane that is above the Equator but GSO can have inclinations.
GSO and GEO lies in the High Earth Orbit category.
GSO is generally used in telecommunication and Remote Sensing Technology.
GEO is basically used in weather monitoring but can also be useful for research and rescue beacons.
Refer to the images below to get a clear idea about GEO and GSO satellites.

GEO and GSO together in a picture for better understanding.

WHY IS NavIC IN NEWS?
1. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 2020 was signed and according to it United States Secretary of Defense in consultation with Director Intelligence will designate NavIC (India), Galileo (European Union) and Quasi-Zenith (QZSS – Japan) will work as an allied national satellite system.
2. In January 2020, Qualcomm has launched 3 new chips with support of NavIC namely Snapdragon 720G, 662 and 460.
3. NavIC is planned to be available for civilian use in mobile devices after Qualcomm (it is an American public multinational corporation it works as a mobile platform) and ISRO (Indian Space Research Ogranization) signed an agreement.