India is soon going to launch its most advanced communication satellite GSAT-N2.
This satellite is also called GSAT-20. It will be launched from Cape Canaveral, America, using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
This satellite has been prepared by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It was not possible to launch this satellite, weighing about 4,700 kg, through an Indian rocket, so it is being launched through a foreign commercial launch.
Will be used for internet service in remote areas and flights
When this satellite starts functioning, it will provide data and internet services to remote areas of India. Apart from this, it will also provide the facility of in-flight internet connectivity in passenger aircraft. However, providing Internet services via satellite will take some time, as service providers will have to obtain licenses and prepare aircraft to connect to satellite-based Internet.
India’s most advanced and high-capacity satellite
According to Dr M Shankaran, Director of ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre, “This domestically built satellite will fill a major gap in India’s in-flight internet connectivity,” NDTV reported. Till now, whenever an international flight entered Indian airspace, it had to shut down internet service as it was not allowed in India.
GSAT-N2 is India’s most advanced Ka-band satellite. With its multi-beam architecture and spot beam technology, it will significantly increase the capacity of the system. The satellite has 32 user beams, of which 8 are narrow beam for the north-east region and the remaining 24 are wide beam for other parts of India.
Commercial launch under NSIL
This launch is being done through New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO. This will be the second commercial satellite of NSIL. Before this, 11 satellites of NSIL are serving the Indian territory. NSIL has paid about Rs 500 crore to SpaceX for the launch. This is India’s first commercial launch with SpaceX. Experts believe that this collaboration will open doors for more commercial launches in the future.
14 years of mission life
GSAT-N2 has a mission life of 14 years. This satellite will provide services to a large number of customers with small user terminals. Its operation is expected to revolutionize broadband services and in-flight connectivity in India. Viasat Inc, a leading US satellite services provider, will also provide in-flight and maritime connectivity services in India using GSAT-20. This step of ISRO is going to add a new achievement in India’s space and telecommunication technology, which will make the country competitive at the global level.
Owner of SpaceX and Falcon 9
SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk and he is its owner. Elon Musk is an American industrialist, investor and one of the world’s leading entrepreneurs. He founded SpaceX in 2002, whose main objective is to develop the technology to send humans and cargo into space at low cost and effectively.
Falcon 9 is a rocket manufactured by SpaceX, which is designed to be reusable. This rocket is capable of carrying various satellites and astronauts to Earth’s orbit and beyond. The name of Falcon 9 is inspired by the famous fictional spaceship “Millennium Falcon”. Elon Musk is the owner and founder of SpaceX as well as several other major companies like Tesla, Neuralink, and The Boring Company.
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