Current Affair 1:

News:

Launch:

GSAT-N2 was successfully launched on November 19, 2024, aboard a Falcon-9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, USA. The launcher placed spacecraft into a Super Geo-synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) with a perigee of 250 km, apogee of 59,730 km and an orbital Inclination of 27.5 degree.

The GSAT-N2 (also referred to as GSAT-20) is a high-throughput communication satellite developed by New Space India Limited (NSIL), the commercial arm of ISRO, and is designed to enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity across India.

Key features and benefits of GSAT-N2:

High Throughput Capacity:

It is equipped with Ka-band transponders and offers approximately 48 Gbps throughput using advanced multi-beam technology. This enables efficient frequency reuse and supports a large subscriber base with small user terminals.

User Beams and Coverage:

The satellite provides 32 user beams, including 8 narrow spot beams for India's northeastern region and 24 wide beams for the rest of the country. Hub stations across India support these beams.

Mission Life: The satellite has a planned operational life of 14 years.

Applications:

It will improve broadband connectivity, especially in remote areas, and enhance in-flight internet services, contributing to India's digital infrastructure growth.

It will enhance broadband services and in-flight connectivity across the Indian region. The satellite offers pan-India coverage, including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.

One more thing you need to know:

GSAT-N2 satellite, with a weight of 4,700 kg, was launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

This decision was made because the satellite's mass exceeded the payload capacity of Indian rockets like the GSLV Mk III (max 4000 KG) for such missions. The Falcon 9 provided the capability to place GSAT-N2 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), from where it will proceed to its final geostationary orbit.

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