India’s space agency, ISRO, is set to launch its heavy communications satellite, GSAT-20, using SpaceX’s Falcon-9 heavy lift launcher, marking the first time ISRO will rely on SpaceX for such a mission. This move highlights India’s lack of a rocket capable of lifting big communication satellites and signifies a shift from its reliance on Arianespace for heavy satellite launches.
GSAT-20, now renamed GSAT-N2, weighs 4700 kg and offers high-throughput capacity designed to serve remote and unconnected regions, providing broadband internet access. The satellite aims to compete with other providers like OneWeb, Starlink, and Reliance Jiospace in the space-based internet service market.
India’s current heaviest rocket, the Launch Vehicle Mark 3, has limitations in lifting heavy satellites beyond 4000 kilograms to geostationary orbit. ISRO Chairman S Somanath emphasizes the urgency to develop a Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) capable of carrying up to 10,000 kilograms, a project already in the works but expected to take several years for completion.
The collaboration with SpaceX underscores India’s need to enhance its launch capabilities while remaining cost-competitive in the evolving space market. This move reflects the ongoing reform process within the government and space agencies to meet future demands in satellite launches and services.
Sources By Agencies