The Number of Satellites in the Indian GPS

The Indian GPS system is made up of a constellation of 7 satellites. Here are the 7 NavIC satellites:

1. IRNSS-1B – Launched in 2014
2. IRNSS – 1C – Launched in 2014
3. IRNSS – 1D – Launched in 2015
4. IRNSS – 1E – Launched in 2016
5. IRNSS – 1F – Launched in 2016
6. IRNSS – 1G – Launched in 2016
7. IRNSS – 1I – Launched in 2018

These 7 satellites are currently operational and providing GPS services within India. As part of a future plan, India intends to launch a constellation of 24 satellites to offer navigation services globally, known as the Global Indian Navigation System. Additionally, India plans to launch five more IRNSS satellites as a short-term plan.

Countries with their Own GPS

Several countries have their own navigation satellite systems, some offering global coverage (Global Positioning System), while others offer regional coverage. The following countries have their own navigation satellite system:

1. United States GPS – The most widely used GPS system globally, operational since 1978 with a constellation of 32 satellites.
2. Russian GLONASS – A constellation of 24 satellites.
3. European Union's Galileo – Became operational in 2016, with a constellation of 30 satellites.
4. Chinese BeiDou – Currently offers regional coverage of the Asia-Pacific region, with plans to provide global coverage by 2020.
5. Japanese Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) – A regional satellite system covering Japan and the Asia-Oceania region.
6. Indian IRNSS, which is detailed in the above sections.

Uses of Navigation Satellite Systems (Both Global Positioning System and Regional Navigation System)

The primary difference among the navigation satellite systems of different countries is the coverage area. Regional navigation satellite systems offer services within a specific geographical area, while a Global Positioning System (GPS) provides services worldwide. The main uses of navigation satellite systems are:

1. Scientific Research
2. Transportation Services
3. Agricultural Applications
4. Defence – For instance, precise delivery of weapons to targets.

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The above details would be beneficial for candidates preparing for the UPSC 2022 .

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