"ISRO Partners with SpaceX for GSAT-20 Satellite Launch, Eyes Future Collaborations"
India's New Space India Ltd. (NSIL) has contracted SpaceX for the launch of the GSAT-20 communications satellite aboard a Falcon 9 rocket in Q2 2024, marking a shift from India's traditional reliance on its own launch vehicles and Arianespace's Ariane rockets. The GSAT-20 satellite, designed to provide high-throughput connectivity across India, was initially expected to launch on India's LVM3 rocket but has been moved to a Falcon 9 due to the satellite's mass and the availability of launch options. This decision reflects SpaceX's growing dominance in the global launch market and the limited availability of alternative launchers.
