India launched the first of seven satellites for its domestic satellite navigation network last week, its space centre said, in the first step to creating a scaled down version of the US Global Positioning System.

A rocket took off in the early hours from a site in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh and injected the 600-kilogramme satellite into orbit 20 minutes later.

Once fully operational in 2015, the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) will provide accurate positioning services for civilian and military users across India and up to 1,500 kilometers beyond its borders.

“The remaining six navigational satellites will be launched at every six months over the next 30-36 months,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman K Radhakrishnan said after the launch.

The United States’ GPS is the most widely used network by consumers with 24 satellites, but other countries including Russia, the European Union and most recently China have developed rival positioning systems.

China’s Beidou, or Compass, navigation system started providing services in the region in December, and is expected to offer global coverage by 2020.

Beijing began building the network in 2000 to avoid relying on the US GPS system. According to reports, Pakistan is set to become the fifth Asian country to use the Chinese system.

The IRNSS will provide commercial and public navigational services such as helping with disaster management as well as movements of India's military, including those of ships and aircraft.

Indian officials estimate the project will cost 14.2 billion rupees ($238.6 million).

India has a well-established space program, but its cost has attracted criticism as the government struggles to tackle poverty and child malnutrition.

 

Source: AFP; Photo: AP