India’s state-of-the-art communication satellite, GSAT-20, is on orbit after being successfully launched into space using Elon Musk owned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch took place from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 12:On Tuesday at 1:01 AM IST successful in putting the satellite into orbit making Indiaaddtogroup of space technology.
The 4,700 kg satellite that aims at providing broadband services in underserved geographical locations and for passenger aircrafts to access Internet during flights was launched on its 34 minutes mission into orbit.. Speaking to the media after the GOGO Gsat20, New Space India Limited Chairman and Managing Director Radhakrishnan Durairaj confirmed that the mission was successful, adding that GSAT-20 had achieved a very precise orbit.
This Is the first occasion on which ISRO has used a SpaceX rocket to send satellites to orbit through NSIL. The satellite relies on the Ka-band frequency only to provide a higher bandwidth and superior communication performance because the Ka-band lies in the range of 27 to 40 GHz. Dr. S. ISRO’s Chairman Somanath congratulated the mission and highlighted that phone signal was good, and the satellite’s solar panels were deployed. GSAT-20 operational life is 14 years with ground facility prepared for its functionality.
To ensure the execution of this launch mission, the Falcon 9 rocket was selected as being a partially reusable two-stage rocket launch vehicle. The rocket in question has been designed to stand 70 meters tall, and weigh around 549 thousand tonnes; its payload capacity is at 8300 kg for the geosynchronous transfer orbit and about 22800 kg to the low earth orbit. The eighth minute after the mission completion the first stage of the Falcon 9 supporting the 19th mission was recovered on the drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the 371st time SpaceX reused a Falcon 9 first stage to recover, continue the reusability journey.
After its launch ISRO Master Control Facility at Hassan took over the command of GSAT-20. In the next several days, the satellite will reach its final orbit about 36,000 kilometers above India.
With this launch, India has inches more closer to the pinnacle of it, in the global satellite communication market. The Falcon 9 rocket is one of the most reputable and successfully launched rockets that have flown 396 missions, and still, SpaceX has a 99% success rate of its technology. A dedicated Falcon 9 launch costs $70 million, proving the relatively affordable expense of the rocket for commercial space operations.
The slaying of GSAT 20 can be considered as a giant step for the ISRO especially for utilizing the upgraded frequency bands, association with global launcher services. It also refers to the escalating use of satellites in closing gaps in technology and improving the communication systems all over the world.
