New Delhi, January 03: India is set to break new ground as it partners with SpaceX for the inaugural launch of its advanced communications satellite, GSAT-20, utilising SpaceX’s Falcon-9 heavy lift launcher. This marks a significant departure for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), as it turns to SpaceX due to the absence of a domestically available rocket capable of handling large communication satellites.
The deal, facilitated by ISRO’s commercial arm, New Space India Limited (NSIL), underscores India’s strategic shift from its traditional reliance on France’s Arianespace consortium for launching heavy satellites. GSAT-20, weighing 4700 kg, will offer high throughput capacity with 32 beams, providing Pan-India coverage, including remote and unconnected regions like Andaman & Nicobar, Jammu & Kashmir, and Lakshadweep islands.
NSIL has entered into a contract with SpaceX for a potential liftoff in the second quarter of the year. The satellite, designed to meet the demanding service needs of remote areas, boasts a throughput capacity of nearly 48 Gbps. The GSAT-20 satellite, post-launch, will be renamed GSAT-N2 and is slated to provide broadband internet access to underserved regions, competing with emerging players like OneWeb and Starlink.
While Arianespace has been a longstanding partner for India, launching 23 heavy-duty communication satellites, NSIL’s move to SpaceX reflects a pragmatic approach driven by commercial viability and readiness. The reform initiatives by the government are evidently influencing such decisions. NSIL, however, has not disclosed the buyer of the satellite’s capacity.
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The GSAT-20 mission aligns with the global trend of space-based internet services, with competitors like Reliance Jiospace also vying for a share in this market. The current limitations of India’s heaviest rocket, the Launch Vehicle Mark 3, underscore the urgency of developing the Next Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) capable of lifting payloads up to 10,000 kilograms to the geo-stationary orbit. This development, underway at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Center, aims to enhance India’s launch capabilities to meet future demands while ensuring cost competitiveness.
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(Inputs from agencies)
