India's first home-grown electric propulsion satellite

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to launch its first home-grown electric propulsion satellite, Technology Demonstrator Satellite (TDS-1), in December 2024.

This satellite will feature indigenously developed electric thrusters and travelling wave tube amplifiers (TWTAs), marking a significant milestone in India's space technology capabilities.

Key Points: 

Launch Date: December 2024. 

Technology: Electric propulsion system (EPS) and indigenously developed TWTAs. 

Benefits: Reduces satellite weight and fuel requirements.

Comparison: Traditional satellites carry about 2 tonnes of liquid fuel, while EPS satellites need only about 200 kg. 

Challenges: EPS generates lower thrust, taking longer to reach the final orbit.

Previous Use: ISRO first used EPS in the South Asia Satellite (GSAT-9) in 2017, but the system was imported from Russia.