India: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch a 4.7-tonne communications satellite aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in the second quarter of this year, according to NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
The GSAT-20 communications satellite is intended to meet the country’s broadband, in-flight, and maritime communications (IFMC) and cellular backhaul service needs, the NSIL said.
With 32 beams providing pan-India coverage, including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, the GSAT-20, which will now be known as GSAT-N2, will have a Ka-Ka band high throughput satellite (HTS) capacity.
Due to the GSLV-Mk3 heavy satellite launch rocket’s capacity to place 4,000 kg of payloads into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), the space agency is now forced to look to SpaceX for Falcon 9 rocket launch services.
“NSIL is realising GSAT-20 satellite through ISRO and will be launched on-board Falcon 9 under a launch service contract between M/s NSIL and M/s SpaceX, USA,” the NSIL said in a statement.
To launch larger satellites up to this point, ISRO has been utilising the French company Arianespace. The Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV), which will be able to place a 10,000 kg payload in GTO, is currently being developed by ISRO.
“GSAT-20 weighing 4,700 kg offers HTS capacity of nearly 48 gpbs. The satellite has been specifically designed to meet the demanding service needs of remote/unconnected regions,” the NSIL remarked.
As part of space sector reforms announced by the government in June 2020, NSIL was mandated to build, launch, own and operate satellites in “demand-driven mode” to meet the service needs of the user.
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