India Leverages US Rocket for GSAT-20 Launch as ISRO's Heavy Lift in Progress
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is currently working on developing a rocket capable of lifting more than four tons. However, until that is complete, India has opted to utilize a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket, owned by Elon Musk, to launch the GSAT-20 communication satellite (renamed GSAT-N2). NewSpace India Ltd has announced that the 4,700kg GSAT-20, constructed by ISRO, is scheduled for launch in the second quarter of 2024 aboard the SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket.
Currently, ISRO possesses the LVM3 rocket, which has a maximum payload capacity of four tons. The GSAT-20 satellite exceeds this capacity by 700 kg. Designed to provide a cost-effective Ka-Ka band high throughput satellite (HTS), GSAT-20 is primarily aimed at fulfilling broadband, IFMC, and cellular backhaul service requirements. NSIL has mentioned that a significant portion of the HTS capacity on the GSAT-20 satellite has already been reserved by Indian service providers. However, the specific customer names have not been disclosed by NSIL.
GSAT-20 offers Ka-Ka band HTS capacity with 32 beams having Pan-India coverage including Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands. According to NSIL, the satellite offers an HTS capacity of nearly 48Gpbs. The satellite has been specifically designed to meet the demanding service needs of remote/ unconnected regions. Earlier India was using the Ariane rockets of Arianespace to launch its communication satellites weighing four or over four tons.
And now it has moved to SpaceX. A couple of private satellite players from India have used SpaceX’s rockets to launch their small satellites, saying the cost is much cheaper than that of ISRO. Meanwhile, ISRO has to realize its semi-cryogenic engine so that the rockets fitted with it can carry over a ton of payload. The Indian space agency will be testing its semi-cryogenic engine this year. The semi-cryogenic engine utilizes a propellant combination of Liquid Oxygen (LOX) and Kerosene.
On July 1, 2023, ISRO carried out the inaugural hot test on an intermediate configuration of the semi-cryogenic engine, referred to as the Power Head Test Article (PHTA) at the ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC) in Mahendragiri, Tamil Nadu. This test was a step in the development of a semi-cryogenic engine with a thrust of 2000 kN, intended for powering the booster stages of upcoming rockets. Unexpectedly, there was a surge in turbine pressure during the test, leading to a subsequent loss of turbine speed, ultimately resulting in the termination of the test.
