India Will Launch GSAT-20 For The First Time From SpaceX's Falcon-9 Rocket

ISRO's commercial arm, 'New Space India Limited' (NSIL), has announced that India will use SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to launch its next-generation heavy communications satellite GSAT-20 (or GSAT-N2).

• This will be India's first mission launched from SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.
• According to NSIL, this Indian mission can be started in the second quarter of this year, i.e., in 2024.
• Heavy lift launcher Falcon-9 can perform this flight from Florida.
• This mission will be accomplished under a launch service contract between NSIL and US-based aerospace company SpaceX.

Why will the Falcon 9 rocket be used?

• Currently, ISRO's LVM3 rocket can deliver payloads up to 4,000 kg to the geostationary transfer orbit, whereas Falcon-9's capacity can be almost double.
• The payload or satellite India wants to send into space under this mission weighs around 4,700 kg.

About GSAT-20:

• GSAT-20 is a communications satellite known as CMS-03 or GSAT-N2.
• The Indian Space Research Organization Satellite Center and Liquid Propulsion System Centre have jointly developed it. The GSAT-20 satellite is funded, owned and operated by New Space India Limited.

The first test of GSAT-20:

• When – June 23, 2022
• Where – Kourou Launch Site, French Guiana
• By Who - Ariane - 5 (VA 257) Launch Vehicle

About Falcon-9 rocket:

• Falcon 9 is a reusable two-stage rocket developed by Elon Musk's popular aerospace company SpaceX.
• According to SpaceX, this is the most powerful rocket in the world.
• The height of this rocket is 70 meters, its diameter is 12 meters and its mass is 549,054 kg.
• So far, it has performed 285 launches, 243 landings and 217 re-flights.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL):

• NSIL is the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
• Establishment - 2019
• Headquarters – Bengaluru