Current Context: Recently SpaceX’s Falcon-9 deployed India’s GSAT-N2 satellite into orbit.
About GSAT-N2 (Geostationary Satellite-20)
- GSAT-N2 (also called GSAT-20) is a communication satellite launched to improve broadband and in-flight connectivity across India.
- Developer: Managed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO.
Launch Details:
- Rocket Used: SpaceX’s Falcon-9.
- Launch Site: Cape Canaveral.
- Significance of Rocket: Falcon-9 was chosen as India’s LVM-3 rocket cannot carry payloads beyond 4,000 kg.
Features:
- Weight: Approximately 4,700 kg.
- Orbit: Placed in a geosynchronous transfer orbit.
- Mission Life: Designed to function for up to 14 years.
- Technology: High throughput Ka-band communication for better data handling.
Coverage: Provides pan-India coverage, including remote regions like the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.