SpaceX’s Falcon-9 to launch India’s GSAT-20; satellite to spread broadband coverage

Context: NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation, will launch GSAT-20 (renamed GSAT-N2), on board SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket during the second quarter of 2024.

About GSAT-20 Satellite:

Features:

• GSAT-20 is a high-throughput Ka-band satellite equipped with 32 beams, providing comprehensive coverage across India, including remote regions like Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
• Weighing 4,700 kg, the satellite boasts a High-Throughput Satellite (HTS) capacity of nearly 48 Gbps.
• Specifically designed to address the service requirements of remote and unconnected areas.
• Fully owned, operated, and funded by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Purpose:

• GSAT-20, as part of the GSAT series, serves to enhance data transmission capacity in support of India's Smart Cities Mission.

Significance:

• Aims to fulfill broadband service needs and other demands such as In-Flight & Maritime Connectivity (IFMC) and cellular backhaul services.
• Aligns with space sector reforms, where NSIL operates in a "demand-driven mode" to cater to user requirements.

Technological Advancements:

• Notably, GSAT-20 features the first fully Electric Propulsion (EP) system, offering significantly greater efficiency (5-6 times) compared to chemical-based propulsion.
• Pioneers the use of Electric Propulsion for orbit maneuvering, transitioning from Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) to Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO).