SpaceX’s Falcon9 lifted off on Tuesday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) GSAT-20 communications satellite. The 4,700 kg Indian satellite is designed to enhance India’s communications infrastructure and carries a high-performance Ka-band communications payload with a service life of 14 years.
Once operational, this satellite will provide vital services across the country, including internet connectivity to remote areas and in-flight internet services. Let us tell you that recently there have been regulatory changes, thanks to which such connectivity has been allowed in Indian airspace.
The GSAT-N2 communications satellite is equipped with 32 user beams, including eight narrow spot beams and 24 wide spot beams, which will be supported by central stations located across India.
The partnership was announced in January
New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial segment of government-run ISRO, announced its first collaboration with Elon Musk’s SpaceX on January 3 earlier this year. India had reportedly launched more than 430 foreign satellites, but this satellite was so heavy that the Indian launch vehicle could not carry it into space. For this reason ISRO had to partner with SpaceX.
This launch marks the first commercial collaboration between ISRO and SpaceX after a history of dependence on European heavy satellite launch services. Arianespace currently lacks operational rockets and with geopolitical tensions, Russia and China limiting options, SpaceX has emerged as the best option for India.
Also read: SpaceX made history… The rocket landed in the same place from which it was launched, and also on the arms of the launch pad.
ISRO’s heaviest launch vehicle, LVM-3, is capable of launching 4,000 kg spacecraft into geosynchronous transfer orbit. However, the current demand is much higher, forcing the Indian space agency to look outside its scope.
