NewSpace India Ltd. (NSIL) selected Arianespace to launch GSAT-24 on board the Ariane V. GSAT-24 will be launched in the first quarter of 2022. [NSIL Press Release | Arianespace Press Release]
GSAT-24 is a 4-ton class demand-driven communications satellite. Tata Sky wanted transponders for its Direct-to-Home (DTH) services. It contracted NSIL to meet this demand. NSIL will build and operate the GSAT-24 satellite. Tata Sky will use the transponders to provide the DTH services to it’s customers.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is building the satellite for NSIL.
So, why are we using the Ariane V to launch this satellite? India's GSLV Mk-III is capable of launching this class of satellites. But, ISRO is using the already built GSLVs for missions of national importance like the Moon mission, Chandrayaan III and human spaceflight missions, Gaganyaan. We do not have the capacity to build the GSLVs fast enough to meet this demand.
When India was building the capability to launch communications satellite into geosynchronous orbit, we depended on Arianespace to launch these satellites. The Arianespace press release says they have launched 24 satellites for India. Arianespace has also launched 10 out of the presently active 18 satellites in the GSAT series. Arianespace will use the ECA version of the Ariane V which recently carried the James Webb Space Telescope.
Image: Ariane 5 flight VA-256 on the launch pad with the James Webb Space Telescope in December 2021. Image Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn.
India’s launch options were limited in the past by sanctions and restrictions.
NSIL has not shared how they selected Arianespace for this mission. I wonder if NSIL considered other options for launching the GSAT-24. It costs about €139-185 million ($157-210 million) to launch a satellite on the Ariane V. The SpaceX's Falcon 9 advertises $52 million as base price for a launch.
In an era where private space companies are offering launch services, should NSIL consider companies like SpaceX? There are also other private players as well as governmental space companies to consider. I think they must be bold and think beyond traditional partners of the Indian space programme to launch their satellites.
There would be no question if NSIL chose an ISRO launcher today. But, when Indian private companies enter into competition, they should be questioned as to why they chose an ISRO launcher as against a launcher provided by a private player. Similarly, we must question if NSIL did look at options beyond Arianespace.