THE country’s latest communication satellite, GSAT-N2 was successfully launched by billionaire Elon Musk-founded SpaceX from Cape Canaveral in the US, ISRO’s commercial arm NSIL has said. The communication satellite will enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity across the Indian region, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) said. As the satellite was heavier than ISRO’s current launch capabilities, it had to opt for a foreign launch vehicle, top space scientists and former chiefs of the country’s space agency said. Speaking to PTI, former ISRO chairperson K Sivan said, “the satellite was a heavier one beyond the capability of ISRO launch vehicles, that’s why it has gone outside.” The 4,700kg GSAT-N2 High-throughput (HTS) satellite onboard a Falcon 9 rocket was injected into the desired orbit. “NSIL’s GSAT-N2 High-throughput (HTS) Communication satellite successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, USA on 19th November 2024.” “GSAT-N2 weighing 4700 kg has been injected into the desired Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and ISRO’s Master Control Facility (MCF) has taken control of the satellite. Preliminary data indicates satellite in good health,” NSIL said in a post on ‘X.’

 

The second Demand Driven satellite of NSIL, GSAT-N2 is a Ka-band High throughput communication satellite that will enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity across the Indian region, NSIL said. GSAT-24 was NSIL’s first demand driven satellite and launched from Kourou, French Guiana on June 23, 2022. “Thissatellite (GSAT-N2) featuringmultiplespotbeamsand wideband Ka x Ka transponders, aims to supportalarge subscriberbasewithsmalluser terminals, boosting system throughput through its multibeam architecture which allows frequency reuse,” NSIL said. The satellite has a mission life of 14 years and is equipped with 32 user beams, comprising eight narrow spot beams over the Northeast region and 24wide spotbeams over the rest of India. “These32beamswillbesupported by hub stations located within mainland India,” NSIL said. Thepayloadconsistsof three parabolic 2.5-meter deployable reflectors with multiple feedsgenerating32spotbeams over the Indian region using a single feed per beam configuration.TheGSAT-N2spacecraft structure is based on the standard Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)-based I4Kbus