The Ariane 5, operated by Arianespace, has successfully placed two telecommunications satellites into geostationary orbit: MEASAT-3d for the Malaysian operator MEASAT, and GSAT-24 built by the ISRO on behalf of NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).

MEASAT-3d, to be co-located with MEASAT-3a and MEASAT-3b, is a multi-mission telecommunications satellite built by Airbus Defence and Space. It will significantly enhance broadband speeds of up to 100 Mbps per user in areas with limited or no terrestrial network throughout Malaysia, while continuing to provide redundancy and additional capacity for video distribution in HD, 4K, and ultimately 8K in the Asia-Pacific region.

Highlights of GSAT-24 launch:

• GSAT-24 is a 24 Ku-band 4-tonne class communications satellite that will provide high-quality television, telecommunications and broadcasting services across India. It will be the first “demand driven” communications satellite mission undertaken by NSIL.

• The successful mission of GSAT-24 is a major step forward for NSIL in commercially meeting the DTH communication needs of the country using indigenously built satellite solutions from ISRO.

• The entire satellite capacity on-board GSAT-24 will be leased to its committed customer Tata Play, the DTH business of Tata Group, for meeting their DTH application needs.

• GSAT-24 is configured on ISRO’s proven I-3k Bus with a mission life of 15 years.

• After nearly 40 minutes of flight, GSAT-24 satellite was successfully injected into its intended Geo-Synchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO).

• Post-separation of GSAT-24, ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan, Karnataka, took control of the satellite and initial data received indicates good health of the satellite.

• In the coming days, the orbit of GSAT-24 would be raised from GTO to Geo Stationary Orbit (GSO), through a series of orbit-raising manoeuveres using the satellite’s on-board propulsion system.

• With the successful launch of GSAT-24, NSIL will be owning and operating  11 communication satellites in-orbit and would meet the bulk of the communication needs of the country.

What is a ‘demand-driven’ satellite?

• Demand-driven mode basically means when a satellite is launched, one will know who the end customers are going to be and what is the kind of utilisation and commitment so that you have very effective utilisation of this satellite capacity once it goes into orbit. 

• Earlier, the mode was more supply driven, with capacity being leased after the launch with largely no firm commitment by customers beforehand. 

NewSpace India Limited

• The NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), a central public sector enterprise (CPSE), under the administrative control of the department of space (DOS) was established on March 6, 2019. 

• NSIL is the commercial arm of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) with the primary responsibility of enabling Indian industries to take up high technology space related activities.

• It was set up to meet the ever-increasing demands of Indian space programme and to commercially exploit the emerging global space market. 

• In June 2020, the government enhanced the role and scope of NSIL to encompass more responsibilities in the primary business areas and widen the scope in June 2020. 

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