GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20)

20.11.2024

GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20)

Why in the news?                        

India’s GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20) communication satellite was successfully launched by SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket recently.

About GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20):

• It is India’s advanced communication satellite.
• It was developed by New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO under the Department of Space.
• It was launched onboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.
• It is designed to provide data and internet services to remote regions and enable in-flight Internet connectivity across the Indian subcontinent.
• It will provide significant data transmission capacity, particularly for India's Smart Cities Mission.

Features Of the satellite:

• It is a high-throughput communication satellite operating in the Ka-band.
• The satellite is equipped with multiple spot beams and is designed to support a large user base, utilizing small user terminals.
• GSAT-N2 features 32 user beams—8 narrow spot beams over the Northeast region and 24 wide spot beams covering the rest of India.
• These beams will be supported by hub stations across mainland India.
• The satellite’s Ka-band high-throughput communication payload provides a throughput of around 48 Gbps.
• The GSAT-N2 satellite, with a lift-off mass of 4,700 kg, has a mission life of 14 years.
• This is India’s highest throughput satellite and the only one exclusively operating in the highly sought-after Ka-band.

Why was the Falcon-9 rocket chosen?

• While ISRO’s Mark-3 launch vehicle can place up to 4,000 kg into a geostationary transfer orbit, the GSAT-N2’s weight of 4,700 kg required a different solution.
• As a result, ISRO turned to SpaceX’s launch vehicle for the mission, marking ISRO’s first commercial collaboration with SpaceX.

                                                                  Source: The Hindu

Consider the following statements regarding GSAT-N2 (GSAT-20):

1. It is India’s advanced communication satellite launched onboard SpaceX’s Falcon-9 rocket.

2. It is designed to provide data and internet services to remote regions and enable in-flight Internet connectivity across the Indian subcontinent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 only

B.2 only

C.Both 1 and 2

D.Neither 1 nor 2

Answer C