India’s high-power communication satellite GSAT 30 was on Friday launched onboard Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana in the early hours of Friday.
India’s telecommunication satellite GSAT-30 was successfully launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) on January 17, 2020 from Kourou launch base, French Guiana by Ariane-5 VA-251, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said.
Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël confirmed the successful launch in a tweet.
He said, “A strong start to 2020 as #Ariane5 successfully deploys its two satellite passengers – EUTELSAT KONNECT and GSAT-30 – into geostationary transfer orbit! I appreciate the trust from the two customers on this mission: @Eutelsat_SA and @ISRO #VA251 #MissiontoSuccess.”
“Flight #VA251 marked another #Arianespace success for @ISRO, with a total of 24 spacecraft orbited for #India’s space agency. Thanks for your continued confidence on today’s #MissiontoSuccess,” he added.
GSAT-30 is configured on ISRO’s enhanced I-3K Bus structure to provide communication services from Geostationary orbit in C and Ku bands. The satellite derives its heritage from ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series, the ISRO statement said.
Weighing 3357 kg, GSAT-30 is to serve as replacement to INSAT-4A spacecraft services with enhanced coverage. The satellite provides Indian mainland and islands coverage in Ku-band and extended coverage in C-band covering Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia, it said.
The designed in-orbit operational life of GSAT-30 is more than 15 years, it added.
