GSAT 20 artificial satellite has been successfully launched into space as a milestone in the development of Internet services in India. It was launched by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida yesterday at 12:01 PM local time, Monday (November 17).
GSAT 20, also known as GSAT-N2, was developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and will be used in full commercial operations. The satellite is capable of delivering internet facilities even from remote areas to aircraft in mid-air.
Radhakrishnan Durairaj, chairman of ISRO's commercial arm New Space India Limited, confirmed that the satellite had successfully reached the designated orbit. Its control is now in the hands of ISRO's Master Control Facility. In a few days it will be placed in the correct position at an altitude of 36 thousand km.
After observing the launch from the UR Rao Satellite Center in Bangalore, ISRO Chairman S. Somnath said, the satellite will be operational for 14 years. It is the first satellite developed by ISRO to use the advanced KA band frequency. This frequency range of 27 to 40 GHz will provide higher bandwidth to the satellite.
Note that the weight of GSAT-20 is 4,700 kg, which is more than the carrying capacity of ISRO's own rocket. So SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is used. It was the 396th successful launch of the Falcon 9 rocket, which is 70 meters long and weighs about 549 tons.
India's success is claimed to have opened new horizons not only in the development of Internet services, but also in space technology and commercial launch activities.
