Partnering for the first time with billionaire businessman Elon Musk, India will launch its communications satellite GSAT-20 (newly named GSAT-N2) on his company SpaceX's Falcon-9 rocket. This satellite is planned to be launched in the second quarter of this year.
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), said in a statement on Tuesday that the purpose of this high-powered satellite is to boost India's broadband communications, especially in remote and unserved areas of the country. In. The satellite weighs 4,700 kg, which is more than ISRO's current highest spacecraft launch capability of 4,000 kg.
NSIL said that it will fully own, operate, and finance the High Throughput Satellite (HTS) GSAT-20 with a capacity of 48 gigabits per second (GBPS). This Ka-band satellite is capable of providing high-speed broadband connectivity and digital video and audio transmission. Its coverage will be across India including Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.
It is noteworthy that NSIL launched its first demand-based satellite mission GSAT-24 in June 2022.
Falcon-9 can carry a payload of 8,300 kg
ISRO's heavy satellite launch rocket GSLV-MK3 is capable of placing a payload of four thousand kilograms in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO). This is the reason why ISRO is taking the services of SpaceX's Falcon-9.
Falcon-9 is capable of installing a payload of 8,300 kg in GTO. Till now ISRO was taking the services of French company Arianespace for heavy satellites. However, ISRO is also developing its Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLB) which will have the capacity to launch a payload of 10,000 kg into GTO.
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