# IRNSS R1A

> 39199

**Wikidata**: [Q111471882](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111471882)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/irnss-r1a

## Summary
IRNSS R1A is the first satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), launched to provide autonomous regional positioning services over India and extending up to 1,500 km. It is a key component of India's indigenous satellite navigation constellation.

## Key Facts
- **Entity ID:** 39199 (primary identifier in referenced systems)
- **Instance Of:** Artificial satellite
- **System:** Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS)
- **Satellite Role:** First operational satellite of the IRNSS constellation
- **Launch Vehicle:** Deployed via a launch vehicle (specific vehicle not provided in source)
- **Orbit Type:** Geostationary Orbit (GEO) or Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) (standard for IRNSS satellites, though specific orbit details not provided for R1A)
- **Operator:** Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) (implied by IRNSS system ownership)

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of IRNSS R1A?
A: IRNSS R1A serves as the inaugural satellite for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), designed to provide accurate positioning, navigation, and timing services specifically tailored for the Indian region and surrounding areas.

### Q: When was IRNSS R1A launched?
A: The specific launch date for IRNSS R1A is not provided in the source material. It was the first satellite launched within the IRNSS program.

### Q: How does IRNSS R1A differ from global navigation systems like GPS?
A: IRNSS R1A provides regional coverage focused on India and a surrounding area of about 1,500 km, offering higher accuracy within this region compared to global systems like GPS, which provide worldwide coverage but potentially lower precision locally.

### Q: What makes IRNSS R1A significant for India?
A: IRNSS R1A is significant as it marked India's entry into developing its own independent satellite navigation system, reducing reliance on foreign systems like GPS for critical applications including defense, transportation, and disaster management.

## Why It Matters
IRNSS R1A holds strategic importance as the foundational satellite of India's first independent regional navigation system. Its launch represented a major technological achievement for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), enabling the nation to provide precise positioning and timing services essential for diverse sectors like transportation, telecommunications, agriculture, and defense within its sovereign region. By establishing the IRNSS constellation starting with R1A, India enhanced its self-reliance in space-based navigation, secured critical infrastructure against potential disruptions to foreign signals, and fostered indigenous technological capabilities in satellite navigation.

## Notable For
- **Pioneer:** The first satellite launched for the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
- **Regional Focus:** Part of the constellation designed to provide autonomous navigation services specifically over India and a surrounding region.
- **Autonomous Capability:** A key component enabling India's indigenous satellite navigation capability independent of global systems like GPS or GLONASS within its operational zone.
- **System Foundation:** Initiated the deployment of the IRNSS constellation, which later expanded to include multiple satellites in both Geostationary (GEO) and Geosynchronous (GSO) orbits.

## Body
### IRNSS System Overview
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) is an autonomous regional satellite navigation system developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Its primary objective is to provide accurate real-time positioning, navigation, and timing services to users in India and a region extending up to 1,500 km around the mainland. This regional system complements global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou by offering enhanced accuracy and reliability within its designated coverage area.

### IRNSS R1A's Role
IRNSS R1A, identified as entity 39199, was the first satellite launched specifically for the IRNSS program. As the inaugural satellite of the constellation, its deployment was a critical step in establishing the operational capability of the regional navigation system. It was designed to transmit navigation signals compatible with user receivers, forming the basis for position determination within the IRNSS framework. While specific technical specifications like mass, dimensions, exact orbital parameters, and signal frequencies are not provided in the source material, its classification as an artificial satellite and its role as the first IRNSS satellite are well-defined.

### Constellation Development
Following the launch of IRNSS R1A, the IRNSS constellation was expanded with additional satellites (IRNSS R1B through IRNSS R1I) to achieve full operational capability. The constellation typically consists of satellites placed in Geostationary Orbit (GEO) and Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) to ensure continuous visibility and robust coverage over the Indian region. IRNSS R1A was the first step in building this multi-satellite infrastructure.