India aims to launch the first of the seven satellite Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) in June 2013. The IRNSS is designed to serve as India’s Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide information about the location and time in all weather conditions. The IRNSS-1 will be launched via the polar satellite launch vehicle, PSLV-C22, from the Sriharkota, Andhra Pradesh launch pad.

 

According to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairman K Radhakrishnan, the satellite constellation aims to increase position accuracy and provide standard positioning service for common users and restricted service for authorized users.

 

By launching the IRNSS, India joins China and Europe in the mission to create their own version of the U.S. GPS. The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Union (EU) are working together to create the 30 satellite Galileo constellation and aim to complete it by 2020. China’s own navigation system, BeiDou has already been opened for commercial use across the Asia-Pacific region.

 

In the next year, the ISRO aims to launch at least 12 missions, including the launch of a Mars orbiter from October through November. This mission aims to find signs of life as well as research Mars’ loss of atmosphere.