New Delhi:- India's space agency ISRO has joined hands with SpaceX, the company of Elon Musk, Donald Trump's closest friend who won the US presidential election. SpaceX is getting the first and biggest benefit of this multi-million dollar deal. Under this deal, early next week, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will carry India's most modern communication satellite GSAT-20 into geostationary transfer orbit.
First and biggest commercial deal between ISRO and SpaceX
This is the first major step in many commercial engagements between the Indian Space Research Organization and SpaceX. While some people have been saying that ISRO and SpaceX are competitors for low-cost launches. Meanwhile, a big question has also arisen that when it has Bahubali rocket, then why is ISRO taking the help of Elon Musk to send GSAT-N2 satellite into space? Come, let us try to know about its complete inside story.
GSAT-N2 will be launched from Cape Canaveral, America
GSAT-N2 will be launched from Cape Canaveral, America. This 4,700 kg satellite manufactured by ISRO was too heavy for Indian rockets. Therefore it is being commercially launched abroad. India's own rocket 'The Baahubali' or launch vehicle Mark-3 could deliver a maximum payload of 4,000-4,100 kg to geostationary transfer orbit. India has until now depended on Arianespace to launch its heavy satellites, but currently does not have any operational rockets.
Why did SpaceX become the only credible option for ISRO?
Therefore, the only credible option for India was to go with SpaceX. Because Chinese rockets are prohibited for India and Russia is not able to offer its rockets for commercial launches due to the ongoing conflict with its neighboring country Ukraine. Secondly, no one in the global commercial space market doubts that SpaceX is far ahead among private players in this matter. This is a subject specific and commercial matter, but the matter extends beyond this to international relations and politics as well.
US President Trump's friend Elon Musk is a fan of PM Modi
It is famous all over the world that US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi call each other “my friend”. Along with these two, entrepreneur Elon Musk is also a friend of Trump. Elon Musk has said that he is a “fan of PM Modi”. The optics and timing of the space launch are perfect, but coincidentally these deals predate the US election results, and hence critics in Washington DC or New Delhi cannot even raise the issue of “crony capitalism”.
Beneficial deal for ISRO in terms of technology and profit also
Now looking at the technical side and benefits, Radhakrishnan Durairaj, Chairman and Managing Director of ISRO's Bengaluru-based commercial arm New Space India Limited, told NDTV, “We have got a good deal on this first launch with SpaceX.” He said, “The cost of launching this particular satellite… the technical compatibility and the commercial deal… I would say it was a good deal for us to launch such a heavy satellite on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.”
Mission life of ISRO's 4,700 kg GSAT-N2 is 14 years
ISRO has manufactured GSAT-N2 weighing 4,700 kg. Its mission life is 14 years. This is a purely commercial launch, which is being operated by NSIL. The satellite is equipped with 32 user beams, including eight narrow spot beams on the northeastern sector and 24 wide spot beams on the rest. These 32 beams will be supported by hub stations located in mainland India. It will also help in enabling in-flight internet connectivity.
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