NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) has successfully launched the GSAT-24 communication satellite as its first demand-driven mission post the space sector reforms. The company has leased the entire satellite capacity to direct-to-home (DTH) service provider Tata Play for a period of 15 years.
GSAT-24, built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for NSIL, is a 24-Ku band communication satellite weighing 4,180 kg with pan-India coverage for meeting DTH application needs. It is configured on ISRO’s proven I-3k Bus with a mission life of 15 years.
The communication satellite was launched on-board Ariane-V VA257 flight, operated by France-based company Arianespace, from the Guiana Space Centre, Europe’s spaceport in Kourou. Ariane-V VA257 flight also carried Measat-3d communication satellite from Malaysia as a co-passenger.
The GSAT-24 satellite was successfully injected into its intended geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) after nearly 40 minutes of flight. Post-separation of the satellite, ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan, Karnataka, took control of the satellite. According to NSIL, the initial data received indicated the good health of the satellite.
