Introduction and Overview

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

- This marks India's first collaboration with Elon Musk's spacecraft manufacturing company, SpaceX.

- The launching location was Cape Canaveral, Florida, US.

 

Details of the Launch

- GSAT-N2 was launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), an elliptical orbit at an altitude of roughly 37,000 km.

- This is the first step towards reaching a geosynchronous or geostationary orbit (GSO).

- The communication satellite achieves GSO by taking on a circular path parallel to the equator when it is at the apoapsis and firing its rocket engine.

- The apoapsis is the point in the orbit where the object is at its furthest distance from the body it is orbiting.

 

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) and its Role

- The GSAT-N2 satellite belongs to NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

- NSIL is responsible for building, launching, owning, and operating satellites in a "demand-driven model" aimed to meet the service needs of its users.

- Interestingly, GSAT-N2 is NSIL's second demand-driven satellite; with its first one - GSAT-24 - being launched in June 2022.

 

Importance and Future Implications

- The successful launch of GSAT-N2 marks a significant milestone for India in its space exploration journey.

- It also highlights the potential benefits of international partnerships like the one between India and SpaceX.

- The GSAT-N2 is expected to contribute significantly to communication infrastructure, reinforcing India's progress in the era of digital communication.

- Future successful collaborations with international entities like SpaceX could position India as a significant player in global space endeavours, stimulate technological advancement, and promote social and economic development.