The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday launched India’s fifth navigation satellite IRNSS-1E. Exactly today at 9.31 AM, the 44.4-metre high Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-31) rocket weighing 320 tonnes blasted off into the morning sky from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. With this launch India is one step closer to an operational ‘desi-GPS’.

RNSS-1E is the satellite in the IRNSS space system, comprising seven satellites, which would be on par with US-based GPS (American Global Positioning System). India will be the sixth country in the world to have this system that is much needed by the Indian armed forces.

It has configuration similar to its predecessors IRNSS-1A, 1B, 1C and 1D that are already operational in space. Weighing 1425 kilogram during lift off, the satellite has the mission life of 12 years equipped with navigation payload and ranging devices.

LIVE: Scientists at @isro closely observing the flight parameters of #PSLVC31 launched a few minutes ago. pic.twitter.com/1JVP53tS92

— PIB India (@PIB_India) January 20, 2016

ISRO has announced that the remaining two satellites in the series will be put in place before March this year.