NavIC’s first satellites atomic failed in 2016. The satellite named IRNSS-1A was turned into a data relay . IRNSS stands for Indian Regional Satellite System . A backup satellite launched to replace IRNSS-1A failed during launch. Last month ISRO finally completed all the NavIC by launching the last satellite .
ISRO aims to launch more satellites for redundancy .
In view of the cascade of failing imported atomic clocks — nine out of the 21 clocks in the fleet have failed — ISRO has decided to add buffers to the NavIC by adding four more satellites.
It hopes to have an indigenous atomic clock in each of them. “We are in the process of getting approval [from the government] for at least another four IRNSS satellites,” ISRO Chairman K.Sivan told The Hindu, confirming the failure of clocks.
Read : Top facts about NavIC
“However, they will have some advanced technology, apart from the atomic clocks developed by ISRO.” NavIC is meant to give Indian civil and military users reliable location and time information, for which the performance of the atomic clocks is critical.
ISRO Atomic Clocks
The indigenous atomic clock is being developed by the Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad, Mr. Sivan said, adding that once it passes qualification tests, “We will first demonstrate the indigenous clock in an upcoming navigation satellite, along with the imported ones.
Work on them is going on in full steam.”
The cost and timing of the new satellites are not finalised, Mr. Sivan said. The development and eventual use of an indigenous atomic clock, at a cost of a few hundred crore rupees, was part of the NavIC concept, he added.
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