Sriharikota, January 20 : The fifth satellite of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) IRNSS-1E, was launched from Sriharikota early on Wednesday Morning. It is also India’s first launch of 2016. IRNSS, which is designed to use seven satellites in geosynchronous orbits, provides the country with a satellite navigation system that is not overtly reliant upon other countries and their corresponding space assets. Also Read - India launches another navigation satellite as part of home grown GPS (Eds: Combining related reports) By C Shyam Sundar

The 48-hour countdown for the launch scheduled at 9.31 Am from the second launch pad began on Tuesday at the spaceport of Sriharikota. IRNSS-1E carries an estimated lift of mass of about 1,425 kg. Also Read - PM congratulates ISRO for launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1I

The constellation will also achieve its complete operational capacity following the launches of IRNSS-1F and 1G scheduled for the months of February and March. It will also help in transmitting navigation service signals to the users and operate in L5-band and S-band. It also consists of a C-band transponder that would help in accurately determining the range of the satellite.(ALSO READ : ISRO PSLV-C31 set for IRNSS-1E launch). Also Read - ISRO to launch navigation satellite on Arpil 12

In July 2013, The first satellite which was IRNSS-1A, got placed into the orbit . Furthermore many other satellites were also successfully launched in between periods ranging from April 2014, October 2014 and then continuing onto March 2015.

While four satellites has been estimated to be sufficient to start operations of the IRNSS system, the remaining three satellites would make it more accurate and efficient. The four satellites which has already been launched include IRNSS-1A on July 1, 2013, while IRNSS-1B on April 4, 2014, IRNSS-1C was launched on October 16, 2014 and IRNSS-1D on March 28, 2015.