After the reforms in the Space sector, NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) launched GSAT-24 in its first “demand-driven” communication satellite mission. They leased the entire capacity on board to Direct-to-Home (DTH) service provider Tata Play.
GSAT-24 is a Ku band communication satellite that has coverage for meeting DTH application needs across the country. Built by the Indian Space Research Organization for NSIL, the satellite, which weighs 4180 kgs, was positioned successfully into geostationary orbit by the Ariane 5 rocket, operated by Arianespace, a French Company from Kourou in French Guiana (South America), on Thursday.
NSIL, formed in March 2019, is a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Department of Space (DOS) and is the commercial arm of ISRO.
The satellite’s entire capacity on board GSAT-24 will be leased, for meeting their DTH application needs, to its dedicated customer Tata Play, the DTH business of Tata Group.
“The entire mission is fully funded by NSIL — satellite, launch, launch campaign, insurance, transportation, in-orbit maintenance, and support. Once the satellite is up in orbit, this will be fully owned and operated by NSIL,” NSIL Chairman and Managing Director Radhakrishnan Durairaj told PTI. “So, we will be the satellite operator for this particular satellite,” he said.
