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5.8-tonne GSAT-11 ready for launch
News:
India’s heaviest satellite, GSAT-11, is set for lift-off on a European Space Agency rocket from French Guiana.
Facts:
- Gsat-11 is a high-throughput communication satellite meant to provide multi-spot beambroadband connectivity over India’s mainland and nearby islands
- A spot beam is a satellite signal that is especially concentrated so that it covers only a limited geographical area. The narrower the beam greater the power.
- There is another communication satellite GSAT-20 which is to be launched next year
- Launch of four high-throughput satellites (GSATS 19, 29, 11, 20) will provide the country broadband connectivity of over 100 gigabits per second by 2019.” Of the four, two satellites Gsat-19 and Gsat-29 have already been launched.
- The HTSs will be the backbone of India’s Internet-based programmes and services — such as Digital India, BharathNet for rural e-governance, and commercial and public sector VSAT Net service providers.
- Along with GSAT-11, South Korea’sGEO-KOMPSAT-2A, a meteorology satellite is also launched.
