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Navigation with Indian Constellation and its Applications in Metrology

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Abstract

Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC), also known as Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS), is an independent regional navigation satellite system, designed to provide accurate position information in the Indian subcontinent. Precise time plays a crucial role in any satellite navigation system for providing positioning, navigation and timing services. IRNSS Network Timing Facility (IRNWT), located at the control center of NavIC, caters to the precise timing requirements of NavIC network. A major metrological application of IRNWT and hence of NavIC is to provide time & frequency calibration with very high accuracy. To ensure traceability to the national reference, UTC (NPLI), and through it to the apex reference, UTC, the IRNWT time scales are linked with the UTC (NPLI), realized at CSIR—National Physical laboratory, India (NPLI) using GNSS Common-view (CVGNSS) and two-way satellite time and frequency transfer techniques. This paper discusses how NavIC plays an effective role in the dissemination of Indian Standard Time or UTC (NPLI) to the users in its service volume. Also discussed are the typical results of traceability of IRNWT time scales to the national reference.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Navigation Systems Area, ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network, ISRO, Bangalore, India

    Aakanksha Avnish Bhardwajan, Suresh Dakkumalla, Anu Arora & T. Subramanya Ganesh

  2. The NorthCap University, Gurugram, India

    Amitava Sen Gupta

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  1. Aakanksha Avnish Bhardwajan
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  2. Suresh Dakkumalla
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  3. Anu Arora
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  4. T. Subramanya Ganesh
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  5. Amitava Sen Gupta
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Correspondence to Amitava Sen Gupta.

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Bhardwajan, A.A., Dakkumalla, S., Arora, A. et al. Navigation with Indian Constellation and its Applications in Metrology. MAPAN 36, 227–236 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12647-021-00467-9

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