Science & TechnologyImportant2024-11-19

ISRO Launches GSAT-N2 via SpaceX Falcon 9

Q: Which of the following statements regarding the GSAT-N2 satellite mission is/are correct? 1. It is the first time ISRO's commercial arm, NSIL, has utilized a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for a satellite launch. 2. The GSAT-N2 was launched on an indigenous LVM3 rocket from Sriharikota to showcase India's heavy-lift capabilities.

1 only — Statement 1 is correct, as NSIL utilized SpaceX for the first time. Statement 2 is incorrect; the 4,700 kg GSAT-N2 exceeded the 4,000 kg payload capacity of the LVM3 rocket, necessitating the launch via SpaceX from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

In News

What Happened

On November 19, 2024, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) successfully launched the GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) communication satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The 4,700 kg Ka-band satellite was deployed using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This marked the first collaboration between ISRO's commercial arm and SpaceX for a satellite launch.

Why It Matters

The GSAT-N2 will provide a massive throughput of 48 Gbps, significantly boosting broadband services and enabling in-flight internet connectivity across India. The launch demonstrates India's pragmatic approach to using commercial foreign rockets when payloads exceed the 4,000 kg capacity of its heaviest indigenous rocket, the LVM3.

Background

History & Context

ISRO has traditionally relied on the European space consortium Arianespace to launch its heavier communication satellites (above 4,000 kg) from French Guiana. NSIL was established in 2019 under the Department of Space to handle commercial activities, shifting ISRO to a demand-driven model. With Arianespace facing delays transitioning to its new Ariane 6 rocket, NSIL sought alternative commercial launch providers, leading to the selection of SpaceX for GSAT-N2.

What Changed

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BEFORE: India relied on European rockets (like Ariane 5) to launch communication satellites weighing over 4,000 kg. NOW: India utilized a US-based commercial provider (SpaceX Falcon 9) for its heavy satellite launch needs for the first time.
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BEFORE: In-flight internet connectivity over Indian airspace was limited and often relied on lower-capacity satellite networks. NOW: GSAT-N2's dedicated Ka-band with 48 Gbps throughput is specifically designed to enable robust in-flight connectivity and smart city applications across the country.
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BEFORE: ISRO primarily built, owned, and launched GSAT series satellites directly under its developmental budgets. NOW: Under the space sector reforms, NSIL undertakes satellite missions on a demand-driven basis, funding, owning, and operating the GSAT-N2 for commercial telecom clients.

Prelims Angle

NCERT Connection

This event relates to NCERT Class 11 Physics Chapter 8 - Gravitation, specifically the concepts of Earth satellites and orbital velocity. The Falcon 9 rocket places the GSAT-N2 into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO), utilizing gravitational principles to establish an elliptical trajectory that the satellite later circularizes into a geostationary orbit for continuous communication coverage over India.

Practice Questions

Q1

Correct Statement(s)

Which of the following statements regarding the GSAT-N2 satellite mission is/are correct? 1. It is the first time ISRO's commercial arm, NSIL, has utilized a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for a satellite launch. 2. The GSAT-N2 was launched on an indigenous LVM3 rocket from Sriharikota to showcase India's heavy-lift capabilities.

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