On Tuesday, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, carrying the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) GSAT-20 communications satellite. Weighing approximately 4,700 kg, GSAT-20 is set to bolster India’s communication infrastructure with advanced capabilities, including a Ka-band high-throughput payload and a mission lifespan of 14 years.
Once operational, the satellite will provide critical services across India, particularly improving internet connectivity in remote areas and supporting in-flight internet services. This comes as India recently made regulatory changes to allow in-flight connectivity within its airspace.
Also known as GSAT-N2, the satellite is equipped with 32 user beams, consisting of 8 narrow spot beams and 24 wide spot beams. These beams will be supported by hub stations strategically located throughout India, ensuring broad coverage.
This launch marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration efforts, as it is the first commercial collaboration between ISRO and SpaceX. Earlier this year, in January, ISRO’s commercial arm, New Space India Limited (NSIL), announced the partnership. While India has successfully launched over 430 foreign satellites, the heavy weight of GSAT-20 exceeded the payload capacity of ISRO’s own rockets, making the collaboration with SpaceX essential.
Historically, India has relied on European launch services for heavy payloads. However, with Arianespace facing operational delays and geopolitical tensions restricting options from Russia and China, SpaceX has become the preferred partner for high-capacity launches.
ISRO’s heaviest launch vehicle, the LVM-3, can carry payloads of up to 4,000 kg into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). Given the growing demand for heavier satellites, ISRO has increasingly turned to SpaceX for larger payloads beyond the capacity of domestic rockets.
The successful launch of GSAT-20 is a pivotal moment for India’s growing space ambitions and its strategic partnership with SpaceX, a key player in the global commercial space industry.
