Space X Falcon 9 Rocket successfully launch GSAT-20 Satellite of NSIL

American billionaire Elon Musk's company, Space X, successfully launched the New Space India Limited (NSIL) GSAT-20, also known as the GSAT-N2 satellite, on 19 November 2024.

In January 2024, the New Space India Limited (NSIL) entered into an agreement with Space X to launch the GSAT-20 satellite. The government of India set up NSIL in 2019 as the marketing arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO), India's premier space agency.

The GSAT-20 satellite was built by ISRO on demand from NSIL, but it is owned and operated by NSIL.

Also Read - MEA to provide a grant to NSIL to launch Nepal’s Munal Satellite 

From where was the Falcon 9 Rocket launched?

The Falcon 9 rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Port, Florida, United States of America, on November 19, 2024.

The Falcon 9 is a two-stage reusable rocket from Space X. It is the world’s first orbital-class reusable rocket that can carry humans and satellites into Earth orbit. 

About GSAT -20/GSAT-N2 Satellite 

• The GSAT-20 satellite, also known as GSAT-N2, weighs 4,700 kg.
• It is a high throughput (HTS) communication satellite with a capacity of 48 Gbps. 
• The satellite has 32 Spot beams. It will cover even the remotest part of mainland India and the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep islands. 
• The satellite will provide cellular and internet connectivity in the remotest part of the country.
• The lifespan of the satellite is 14 years.

Why was it launched from Space X Rocket?

Currently, ISRO does not have the capacity to launch a satellite weighing more than 4000 kg into a Geostationary Orbit.

India normally launches its heavier satellites using the European Space Agency’s Arianne rocket. However, the European Space Agency currently lacks operational rockets.

Launch Vehicles  of the ISRO

Currently, ISRO has four types of rockets: SSLV, PSLV, GSLV, and LVM3.

SSLV(Small Satellite Launch Vehicle): 

• SSLV rocket is capable of launching satellites weighing up to 500 kg into a 500km LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Orbit. 

PSLV(Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle): 

• ISRO's most reliable rocket, PSLV, has been transferred to the NSIL.
• The rocket can launch satellites weighing up to 1,750 kg into  Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits at 600 km altitude.
• The PSLV can launch satellites weighing up to 1,425 kg into a sub-Geo-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV):

• GSLV uses a cryogenic engine and can launch heavier satellites weighing up to  2200 kg into the Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits (GTO). 

LVM3 Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III):

• The LVM3 rocket can launch satellites weighing up to 4000kg into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbits.
• It can also launch satellites up to 8000kg into Low Earth Orbits of 600 km altitude.