Why in the News?

SpaceX will launch India’s GSAT-20, a 4,700 kg communication satellite, on November 19 from Cape Canaveral. Due to its weight, GSAT-20 exceeds the capacity of India’s LVM-3 rocket, so SpaceX’s Falcon-9 was selected. The satellite will provide crucial services, including internet for remote areas, and is expected to operate for 14 years.

About GSAT 20 Satellite

• It is India’s latest communications satellite.
• It is a hi-tech, heavy-weight satellite weighing 4,700 kg.
• It will have a high throughput capacity of 48 GBPS.
• The satellite made by ISRO has 32 spot beams, and it has been made to cover all of India, but with a special emphasis on providing connectivity for Northeastern India.
• The satellite will be owned and operated by ISRO's commercial arm New Space India Ltd. (NSIL).
• ISRO opted for SpaceX to launch GSAT 20 because India’s indigenous heavy rocket, the Launch Vehicle Mark 3, lacks the capability to lift such a heavy satellite.