Sun Nov 17 18:19:17 UTC 2024: ## India’s Advanced Satellite GSAT-20 Launches Aboard SpaceX Rocket
**Bengaluru, India** – India’s most advanced communication satellite, GSAT-20 (also known as GSAT N-2), launched Tuesday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This marks a significant milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), representing its first commercial launch with SpaceX and the first time utilizing a SpaceX rocket to deploy an Indian satellite.
The 4,700 kg GSAT-20, developed over five years, boasts several firsts for ISRO. It is the first Indian satellite to exclusively utilize the advanced Ka-band frequency, offering significantly higher bandwidth for broadband services. The satellite also features 32 user beams – 8 narrow beams focused on the northeast region and 24 wide beams covering the rest of India – to enhance connectivity. This high throughput satellite is designed for a 14-year lifespan.
GSAT-20’s launch is driven by the growing demand for in-flight internet and improved broadband connectivity. 80% of its capacity has already been sold to a private player, with the remaining 20% earmarked for aviation and maritime services. Viasat Inc., a US-based satellite services operator, plans to utilize the satellite’s capacity to provide nose-to-tail broadband connectivity in India.
ISRO chose a geo-stationary satellite approach for this project, prioritizing cost-effectiveness for regional data needs, unlike the constellation-based systems employed by Starlink and OneWeb. However, ISRO emphasized its readiness to adopt constellation-based solutions if future demand warrants. The dedicated SpaceX launch is estimated to have cost NSIL, ISRO’s commercial arm, approximately Rs 500 crore. GSAT-20 is fully insured and is expected to be a significant revenue generator for NSIL over its operational lifespan.
First Piper 