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ISRO joins forces with Elon Musk’s Space X
ISRO's flagship rocket, the LVM3, is capable of carrying four ton satelites, however the GSAT-20 has a payload of 4.7 tons
ISRO and SpaceX set to launch GSAR-20 / Representative Images - Wikipedia
In an effort to usher in a new era of satellite technology, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is preparing for the launch of its communication satellite, GSAT-20, which weighs 4.7 tons.
While the space agency is still developing a rocket that can lift payloads of more than four tons, it has collaborated with Elon Musk's SpaceX to launch GSAT-20 using the firm’s Falcon-9 rocket. The launch is scheduled for sometime in the second quarter of 2024.
The goal of GSAT-20 will be to offer high throughput satellite (HTS) services in the Ka-Ka band at a reasonable price. These services, which are especially useful for rural and disconnected areas, focus mainly on broadband connectivity as well as In-flight and Maritime Connectivity (IFMC) services.
NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), which is ISRO's commercial arm, has revealed that with its 32 beams, this satellite can cover the whole of India, including the islands of Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar archipelagos.
Highlighting the potential of GSAT-20, NSIL stated that it will have an HTS capacity of about 48 gbps, a design meant to satisfy the strict service needs of remote areas.
While commercial rockets made by Indian firms have been launched by SpaceX vehicles, this collaboration marks the first time the Indian government will use the firm’s services to launch its satellite. The government previously relied on Arianespace's Ariane rockets for satellite launches weighing more than four tons, however it reportedly shifted its focus to SpaceX due to the latter's cost-effectiveness.
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