Mon Nov 18 20:03:24 UTC 2024: ## India’s Advanced Satellite Successfully Launched by SpaceX
**Cape Canaveral, FL –** India’s most sophisticated communications satellite, GSAT-20, successfully launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket early Tuesday morning. The launch, marking a milestone for both ISRO and SpaceX, took place at 1:01 AM EST from Space Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral.
GSAT-20, weighing 4,700 kg, is a fully commercial satellite designed to provide broadband services to remote areas of India and in-flight internet access for passenger aircraft. This is the first time ISRO has utilized a SpaceX launch vehicle for a satellite deployment, achieved through its commercial arm, New Space India Limited (NSIL). The launch was a dedicated mission, with GSAT-20 as the sole payload.
Radhakrishnan Durairaj, Chairman and Managing Director of NSIL, confirmed the launch was successful and that GSAT-20 achieved a precise orbit. ISRO Chairman Dr. S. Somanath reported that the satellite is healthy, with solar panels deployed, and has a projected 14-year lifespan. He highlighted the readiness of the ground infrastructure to support the satellite’s operations.
A key feature of GSAT-20 is its exclusive use of the advanced Ka-band frequency, allowing for significantly higher bandwidth compared to previous satellites. The launch utilized a standard Falcon 9 B-5 rocket, with the first stage successfully recovered approximately 8 minutes after lift-off, marking SpaceX’s 371st successful recovery.
The Falcon 9, known for its high success rate (99%), completed its 396th launch with this mission. After reaching orbit, the Master Control Facility in Hassan, India, assumed control of GSAT-20. In the coming days, the satellite will be raised to its final geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometers above India.
First Piper 