India’s GSAT-24 satellite launched on French rocket

June 24, 2022

On June 23, India launched its GSAT-24 satellite, that has been built by ISRO for NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

Key Points

GSAT-24 satellite was launched on Ariane 5 space launch vehicle, by French company Arianespace.
It was launched from Kourou in French Guiana, in South America.
GSAT-24 is a 24-Ku band communication satellite. It weighs 4180 kg. The satellite will provide coverage to pan-India, to meet DTH application needs.

Why was GSAT-24 launched on a French rocket?

The GSAT-24 satellite was launched on French rocket Ariane 5, because currently India does not have space-launch rocket which can lift a satellite weighing over 4 tons into geostationary orbit. India’s most powerful rocket GSLV MK3 is capable of lifting a maximum of 4 tons into geostationary orbit. It is not enough to life a satellite over 4 ton like GSAT-24.

Why are communication satellites placed in geostationary orbit?

Communications satellites are placed in a geostationary orbit, so that satellite antennas based on Earth, do not have to rotate to track them. They can be pointed permanently at a position in sky where the satellites are located.

What is GSAT-24?

GSAT-24 is a 24-Ku band communication satellite, launched to provide Pan India coverage to meet DTH application needs. It is a 4180 kg satellite. Entire satellite capacity has been leased by NSIL to M/s Tata Play. It is the first demand driven satellite, that has been configured by ISRP. It is owned, funded and operated by NSIL, for commercial user. It has been configured with the objective of augmenting satellite based VSAT and DTH services in BSS Ku-band.

Uses of the GSAT-24 satellite

The satellite has enhanced EIRP, which provides more HD channels, more DTH channels within same spectrum, or more system robustness with additional rain fade margin.
It will provide a satellite based interactive educational services to classes employing DTH quality broadcast.
It will be helpful in telecommunications and emerging applications such as high speed backhaul links, digital cinema, bulk-data transfer etc.

NewSpace India Limited (NSIL)

NSIL is a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) and commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was established on March 6, 2019. It works under the administrative control of Department of Space (DoS). The organisation seeks to increase the participation of industries in Indian space programmes.

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