4 days ago
Last Updated:November 19, 2024, 07:38 IST
The GSAT-N2 satellite is designed to provide data and internet services to remote regions and enable in-flight Internet connectivity across India
The Deployment of GSAT-N2 satellite.
Elon Musk-owned SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) GSAT-20 communication satellite from Florida’s Cape Canaveral on Tuesday.
The GSAT-N2 satellite, weighing 4,700 kilograms, is designed to provide data and internet services to remote regions and enable in-flight Internet connectivity across the Indian subcontinent.
While ISRO’s Mark-3 launch vehicle can place up to 4,000 kg into a geostationary transfer orbit, the GSAT-N2’s weight of 4,700 kg required a different solution. As a result, ISRO turned to SpaceX’s launch vehicle for the mission, marking ISRO’s first commercial collaboration with SpaceX.
GSAT-N2, also known as GSAT-20, is a high-throughput communication satellite operating in the Ka-band. It was developed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO under the Department of Space.
“NSIL’s GSAT-N2 High-throughput (HTS) Communication satellite successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, USA on 19th November 2024," NSIL posted on X.
The satellite is equipped with multiple spot beams and is designed to support a large user base, utilizing small user terminals. According to ISRO, GSAT-N2 has a mission lifespan of 14 years and features 32 user beams—8 narrow spot beams over the Northeast region and 24 wide spot beams covering the rest of India. These beams will be supported by hub stations across mainland India. The satellite’s Ka-band high-throughput communication payload provides a throughput of around 48 Gbps.
Dr M Sankaran, Director of the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru, stated, “This homegrown satellite, once operational, will address the significant gap in in-flight Internet connectivity over India on the global map."
Dr Sankaran further emphasised, “This is India’s highest throughput satellite and the only one exclusively operating in the highly sought-after Ka-band."
Until now, international flights entering Indian airspace were required to disable their Internet services, as India previously did not allow in-flight connectivity. However, recent regulatory changes now permit in-flight Internet access within Indian airspace.
Under the new regulations, Wi-Fi services are allowed in aircraft flying at altitudes above 3,000 meters, though passengers can only access these services when electronic devices are permitted for use onboard.
Location : First Published:November 19, 2024, 07:27 IST
News world Elon Musk’s SpaceX Launches India’s 4,700-Kg GSAT-N2 Satellite Into Space
