First SAR Microsatellite launched

ICEYE the leader in synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) technology for microsatellites launches its first SAR microsatellite ICEYE-X1, on ISRO’s PSLV-C40 rocket. It is Finland’s very first commercial satellite. Making further history, ICEYE has also successfully established communications with the 70 kg satellite at 05:20, GMT (07:20 Finland time) now in orbit, signaling the next step in the mission’s success.

First ICEYE-X1 Radar Image from Space of Noatak National Preserve, Alaska. on Monday Jan. 15, 2018 at 21:47 UTC

"With this single image, the ICEYE-X1 mission is already a full success regarding our most important goals, but this is just the beginning," "We are now working to increase the range of incidence angles and to more than double the ground resolution for ICEYE-X2. We are looking forward to launching our next mission as soon as this summer."said Rafal Modrzewski, CEO and co-founder of ICEYE.

IRNSS, the India's own GPS

IRNSS-1G, seventh of the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) launched on Thursday 28 April 2016, completed a constellation of satellites that will give Indians access to a dedicated satellite navigation system that will not be dependent on foreign governments or suppliers. The system provide accurate position information service to users in India and the region, extending up to 1,500 km from its boundary, which is its Primary Service Area. Beyond that will lie an Extended Service Area, that will extend up to the edges of the area enclosed by the rectangle imagined by latitudes 30 degrees South and 50 degrees North, and longitudes 30 degrees East and 130 degrees East. Currently only five nations have a satellite system offering Global Positioning - the original GPS is owned by the US Air Force and Russia has its parallel system GLONASS. The first satellite of the series, IRNSS-1A, was launched in July 2013. Two more satellites were launched the next year. In January and March this year, ISRO placed fifth and the sixth satellites -- IRNSS-1E and 

IRNSS-1F -- in space. Officials of ISRO said the cost of building the satellite system was Rs. 1,420 crore.

"We used to be dependent on others for navigation, today we have become independent. This system is dedicated to our sailors and the world will know it as NavIC," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.