Context:
- India to use SpaceX Falcon-9 Rocket to Launch Communications Satellite GSAT-20 in 2024.
- New Space India Limited (NSIL) will launch a communication satellite on a SpaceX rocket for the 1st time.
About GSAT -20 (Renamed as GSAT-N2):
- A high- throughput Ka-band Satellite.
- Fully owned, operated and funded by – New Space India Limited (NSIL).
- Weight – 4700 kg
It is much heavier than launch capacity of ISRO’s most powerful rocket, LVM-3 (which can launch spacecraft weighing up to 4000 kg into Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit).
- Purpose – Designed to meet the demanding service needs of remote and unconnected regions.
- 2nd “demand driven” satellite launch enabled by NSIL.
- NSIL’s 1st Demand-driven satellite mission – GSAT-24 with TataPlay purchasing its capacity for Direct-To-Home broadcasting.
New Space India Limited (NSIL):
- Incorporated in March 2019.
- Commercial arm of ISRO
- A Central Public Sector Enterprise under the Department of Space.
- Owns and operates 11 communication satellites in orbit.
- Mandate of NSIL includes –
- Owning satellites for Earth Observation and Communication applications.
- Providing Launch Services for satellite.
- Satellite building through Indian Industry.
- Technology Transfer to Indian Industry.
Source: Economic Times
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
The Mangalyaan launched by ISRO
1. is also called the Mars Orbiter Mission
2. made India the second country to have a spacecraft orbit the Mars after USA
3. made India the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit the Mars in its very first attempt
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
The Mars Orbiter Mission also called Mangalyaan. Hence statement 1 is correct.
India is the only country to be successful in making its spacecraft orbit Mars in its very first attempt. Hence statement 3 is correct.
India is the first Asian country and ISRO is the fourth space agency to send a satellite to Mars after the Soviet space program, NASA, and the European Space Agency. Hence statement 2 is incorrect.
