ISRO’s GSAT-N2 Mission: How SpaceX Plans To Launch India’s Most Advanced Communication Satellite

India's GSAT-N2, a high-throughput communication satellite developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is set to redefine broadband connectivity across the country.

Scheduled for launch on 18 November 2024 from Florida in US, this cutting-edge satellite will be carried into space by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.

This will be the first time that ISRO will be using SpaceX's rocket to launch its satellite.

The Mission at a Glance

The GSAT-N2 mission is a collaboration between ISRO and SpaceX, utilising the latter’s reliable Falcon 9 launch system.

The satellite will be deployed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The launch window opens at 1.31 pm local time on Monday (12.01 am, Tuesday as per Indian standard Time), with a backup opportunity available on 19 November.

This marks the 19th flight of the Falcon 9 first stage booster, which has previously supported diverse missions, including Starlink deployments and the CRS-27 resupply mission.

Launch Phases and Timeline

The Falcon 9’s role in this mission is pivotal, and SpaceX has detailed the key stages of the launch:

Liftoff and Max Q: The rocket will lift off from Cape Canaveral, with the Max Q phase (peak mechanical stress) occurring around 1 minute and 11 seconds after liftoff.

Stage Separation: Approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds into flight, the first and second stages will separate.

First Stage Landing: The Falcon 9 first stage will make a controlled landing on SpaceX’s 'Just Read the Instructions' droneship in the Atlantic Ocean nearly 8 minutes and 30 seconds after launch.

Payload Deployment: After completing multiple engine burns and achieving a precise geosynchronous transfer orbit, GSAT-N2 will be deployed at 33 minutes and 58 seconds post-liftoff.

Why GSAT-N2 Matters

GSAT-N2 is India’s most advanced communication satellite to date, designed to deliver high-speed broadband services and support key initiatives such as the Smart Cities Mission.

The GSAT-N2 (also known as GSAT-20) is a Ka-band high throughput communication satellite of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a Government of India company under the Department of Space and the commercial arm of ISRO.

GSAT-N2 is the second demand driven satellite of NSIL.

With a lift-off mass of 4700 kg, GSAT-N2 has a mission life of 14 years.

The satellite is equipped with 32 user beams, comprising 8 narrow spot beams over the Northeast region and 24 wide spot beams over the rest of India.

These 32 beams will be supported by hub stations located within mainland India.

The Ka-Band HTS communication payload provides a throughput of approximately 48 Gbps.

The satellite will enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity (IFC) across the Indian region, especially in remote and underserved regions.

Why SpaceX was Chosen for the Launch

While GSAT-N2 was initially planned for launch aboard India’s LVM3 rocket, its weight exceeded the vehicle’s capacity.

The satellite was initially expected to be launched in 2024 on an LVM 3, but shifted to Falcon 9 due to the satellite being 700 kg overweight for a successful launch on indigenous platforms.

ISRO previously depended on French commercial launch service provider Arianespace for launching heavy satellites. However, Arianespace currently lacks operational rockets.

Additionally, Russia is not a viable option due to the Ukraine conflict. This made SpaceX the most suitable choice for India.

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