In yet another milestone in the space history of the country, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) launched its navigation satellite IRNSS-1l, which is likely to serve as a replacement to IRNSS-1A, into the space in the wee hours of this morning (12th April).

To aid basically in air-navigation, the satellite blasted off from the Sriharikota Satish Dhawan Space Research Centre at 04:04 a.m., for which the 32-hour countdown commenced at 08:00 p.m. on Tuesday night.

The satellite’s inputs would also be used for regulating road transport, air navigation, communication, disaster management, ocean patrol, overall surveillance measures, etc.

The successful launch of the satellite weighing 1,425 kg means that it would continue to provide valuable inputs for the next 10 years till its ‘life span’.  This also follows last year’s failed launch of the IRNSS-1H which was sent into space on 31st August but which later developed technical snags.