Why In News?
New Space India Limited’ (NSIL), has announced that India will use SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to launch its next-generation heavy communications satellite GSAT-20 (or GSAT-N2). NSIL is a commercial arm of ISRO
- This will be India’s first mission launched from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
- According to NSIL, this Indian mission can be started in the second quarter of this year, i.e., in 2024.
- Falcon-9 can perform this flight from Florida.
About GSAT-20
- GSAT-20 (renamed as GSAT-N2) is a communications satellite also known as CMS-03.
- Objective of GSAT-20: It is a high throughput Ka-band satellite which will deliver high-speed broadband internet connectivity(48Gpbs) and digital video and audio transmission. GSAT-20 offers Ka-band HTS capacity with 32 beams having pan-India coverage including in Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
- The Indian Space Research Organization Satellite Center and Liquid Propulsion System Centre have jointly developed it. The GSAT-20 satellite is funded, owned and operated by New Space India Limited.