Indian positioning satellite IRNSS-1F was successfully launched on March 10

The People’s Republic of China launched the BeiDou-2 I6 positioning satellite on a Long March rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province at 4:11 on March 30 local time (5:11 JST). It was put on a prescribed inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO; altitude of 35,400 kilometers, orbital inclination of 55 degrees). This brought the total number of Chinese positioning satellites launched since April 2007 to 22 (five on a geostationary orbit [GEO], eight on a medium earth orbit [MEO], and eight on an IGSO).

The Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) is composed of seven satellites in total. Three are on a GEO and the remaining four are on an inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO). Up until now, one (IRNSS-1C) was placed on a GEO and four (IRNSS-1A, -1B, -1D, and -1E) on an IGSO. The IRNSS-1F is the second satellite to be placed on the GEO.

IRNSS-1G, the remaining positioning satellite, will be launched in the middle of next month and will be the third satellite on a GEO. If IRNSS-1G is successfully launched, it will complete the IRNSS and usher in the beginning of services for the general public.

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