With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRN

With reference to the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), consider the following statements:

  • 1. IRNSS has three satellites in geostationary and four satellites in geosynchronous orbits.
  • 2. IRNSS covers entire India and about 5500 sq. km beyond its borders.
  • 3. India will have its own satellite navigation system with full global coverage by the middle of 2019.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
None
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), now officially called NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation), initially consists of a constellation of seven satellites.
Statement 1 is correct. The initial constellation comprised three satellites in geostationary orbit (GEO) and four satellites in geosynchronous orbit (GSO).
Statement 2 is incorrect. NavIC provides coverage over India and a region extending up to 1500 km beyond its borders, not 5500 sq. km.
Statement 3 is incorrect. NavIC is a regional navigation system, providing coverage only over India and its vicinity. It is not designed to provide full global coverage. Global navigation systems like GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou have constellations of satellites orbiting the entire Earth.
Geostationary satellites orbit the Earth at the same speed as the Earth rotates, appearing to be fixed in the sky from a specific point on the ground. Geosynchronous satellites orbit the Earth with a period equal to the Earth’s rotation period, but their orbits may be inclined, causing them to appear to oscillate in the sky. The combination of GEO and GSO satellites ensures continuous coverage over the desired regional area.
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