ISRO to launch GSAT-20 on board US rocket Falcon-9 in 2024 Q2

Chennai, (thestates.news) | The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)  will be launching its second Demand Driven satellite mission GSAT-20 on board US rocket Falcon-9 during the second quarter of 2024.  Since development of heavy lift rocket, to carry satellites beyond 4 tonnes was still under progress, it was decided to launch the 4,700 kg GSAT-20 on board the US rocket.

The NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, will undertake its 2nd Demand Driven satellite mission “GSAT-20 [renamed GSAT-N2] : Ka-band HTS satellite” during 2nd quarter of 2024, primarily for meeting the Broadband communication needs of the nation. NSIL on Wednesday said it was gearing up to undertake the mission.

GSAT-20 satellite will be fully owned, operated and funded by NSIL. NSIL is realizing 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. GSAT-20 weighing 4700 kg, offers HTS capacity of nearly 48Gpbs. The satellite has been specifically designed to meet the demanding service needs of remote/ unconnected regions.
As part of Space Sector reforms announced by the Union government in June 2020, NSIL was mandated to build, launch, own and operate satellites in “Demand-driven mode” for meeting service needs of the user.

As part of this, NSIL successfully undertook its first Demand-driven satellite mission, GSAT-24 during June 2022, wherein the capacity onboard the satellite was fully secured by M/s TataPlay. GSAT-24 mission was fully funded by NSIL. Presently, NSIL owns and operates 11 communication satellites in orbit.
On similar lines, during 2nd quarter of 2024, NSIL will be undertaking the GSAT-20 satellite mission to offer cost-effective Ka-Ka band HTS capacity primarily for meeting the broadband, as well as IFMC and cellular backhaul service needs. Bulk of the HTS capacity on-board GSAT-20 satellite has already been secured by Indian service providers. GSAT-20 offers Ka-Ka band HTS capacity with 32 beams having Pan-India coverage including A&N and Lakshadweep islands. Earlier ISRO launched its communication satellites weighing four tonnes and above  using the Ariane rocket of Arianespace.(UNI)