SpaceX has achieved yet another milestone by launching India’s advanced communications satellite, GSAT-20 (GSAT-N2), on November 19, 2024. Developed by ISRO, this cutting-edge satellite promises to revolutionize broadband services across India.
Riding aboard the Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, GSAT-20 features a Ka-band high-throughput communication system, delivering an impressive 70 Gbps bandwidth. It marks a technological leap as India’s first satellite powered entirely by electric propulsion, enabling an efficient transition from geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) to geosynchronous orbit (GEO).
Weighing 4,700 kg, GSAT-20 is set to enhance India’s communication infrastructure as part of the ambitious GSAT program. The mission also underscored Falcon 9’s reusability, with the rocket’s first stage landing flawlessly on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean post-launch.
With this success, SpaceX edges closer to its 400-mission milestone, showcasing the synergy between global space agencies and private innovators in advancing space exploration and connectivity.