# IRNSS-1A

> Indian navigation satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q113187](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113187)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRNSS-1A)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/irnss-1a

## Summary
IRNSS-1A is an Indian navigation satellite operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Launched on July 1, 2013, it was designed to provide positioning and timing services as part of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Navigation satellite
- **Launch Date:** July 1, 2013
- **Operator:** Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
- **Launch Vehicle:** Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL)
- **Mass:** 1,425 kilograms
- **Launch Site:** Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad
- **Orbit:** Geostationary transfer orbit
- **Replacement:** IRNSS-1I
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 39199
- **COSPAR ID:** 2013-034A

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of IRNSS-1A?
A: IRNSS-1A was built for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) program. It provides regional navigation, positioning, and timing services for India and the surrounding region.

### Q: Which organization owns and operates IRNSS-1A?
A: The satellite is owned and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the national space agency of India.

### Q: How was IRNSS-1A launched into space?
A: It was launched on July 1, 2013, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad. The mission utilized a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) rocket to reach a geostationary transfer orbit.

### Q: Is IRNSS-1A still the primary satellite for its mission?
A: No, IRNSS-1A has been replaced in the constellation by the IRNSS-1I satellite.

## Why It Matters
IRNSS-1A is a foundational component of India's independent regional satellite navigation system, known as NavIC. By developing and deploying this satellite, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) established the first building block of a network designed to provide accurate positioning data without relying on foreign global positioning systems. 

The successful deployment of IRNSS-1A demonstrated the capability of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) to deliver heavy navigation payloads into geostationary transfer orbits. This mission was critical for India's strategic autonomy in space-based navigation, ensuring that the country could maintain its own timing and positioning infrastructure for civilian and potentially other applications. While it has since been replaced by IRNSS-1I, its launch marked the beginning of a new era in Indian aerospace engineering and regional satellite services.

## Notable For
- **Constellation Pioneer:** It was the first satellite launched for the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system.
- **Heavy Payload Launch:** Utilized the "XL" high-performance variant of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
- **Regional Focus:** Specifically designed to provide navigation coverage for the Indian subcontinent and surrounding areas.
- **Independent Infrastructure:** Represented a major step in India's goal to operate an independent regional navigation satellite system.

## Body

### Mission and Launch
IRNSS-1A was launched on July 1, 2013, marking a significant milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The launch took place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad. The satellite was carried by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL), a model of the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle designed for higher payload capacities.

### Technical Specifications
*   **Mass:** The spacecraft had a launch mass of 1,425 kilograms.
*   **Orbit:** The satellite was placed into a geostationary transfer orbit.
*   **Identification:** It is tracked under the Satellite Catalog Number 39199 and COSPAR ID 2013-034A.
*   **System Integration:** It was the inaugural member of the Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) system.

### Operational History and Succession
As a navigation satellite, IRNSS-1A was designed to transmit precise positioning and timing signals. It was the first of several satellites intended to form a regional constellation. Following its period of service, the satellite was replaced by IRNSS-1I to maintain the operational integrity of the NavIC network. The project was entirely managed by ISRO, which remains the owner and operator of the hardware.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/list-of-pslv-launches)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Source](https://www.isro.gov.in/spacecraft/list-of-navigation-satellites)