ISRO’s GSAT-30 satellite successfully launched onboard Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana
India’s “high power” communication satellite GSAT-30, specially aimed at providing high-quality television, telecommunications and broadcasting services, was successfully launched onboard Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana in Friday early morning. The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) give this official information.
Blasting off from the Ariane Launch Complex in Kourou, a French territory located in northeastern coast of South America at 2:35 am IST, European space consortium Arianespace’s Ariane 5 vehicle injected GSAT-30 into the orbit in a flawless flight lasting about 38 minutes.
#GSAT30 successfully separated from the upper stage of #Ariane5 #VA251 pic.twitter.com/XraPhj37Xl
— ISRO (@isro) January 16, 2020
Isro said in a tweet, ” #GSAT30 successfully separated from the upper stage of #Ariane5 #VA251″.
Confirming the successful launch, Arianespace CEO Stéphane Israël tweeted, “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.”
Isro’s U R Rao Satellite Centre Director P Kunhikrishnan, who was present in Kourou, congratulated the Isro community and Arianespace team on the successful launch.
#Ariane5 Flight #VA251 carrying #GSAT30 and EUTELSAT KONNECT successfully liftoff pic.twitter.com/PLRiMgidPw
— ISRO (@isro) January 16, 2020
Calling it an “excellent start” to 2020 for Isro with the launch, he said, “The mission team at the master control facility have already acquired the satellite and they will immediately complete the post launch operations….”
The 3,357-kg satellite, which was deployed from the lower passenger position of Ariane-5 launch vehicle (VA 251) into to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), is configured on Isro’s enhanced I-3K Bus structure to provide communication services from Geostationary orbit in C and Ku bands.
India’s communication satellite #GSAT30 was successfully launched into a Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit by #Ariane5 #VA251.
Thanks for your support !!!
For details please visit: https://t.co/FveT3dGuo6
Image Courtesy: Arianespace pic.twitter.com/67csn0zZq7
— ISRO (@isro) January 16, 2020
The satellite derives its heritage from Isro’s earlier INSAT/GSAT satellite series, and is equipped with 12 C and 12 Ku band transponders.
GSAT-30 is to serve as replacement to the “aging” INSAT-4A spacecraft services with enhanced coverage, Isro has said, adding 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.
With a mission life of 15 years, GSAT-30 is an operational communication satellite for DTH, television uplink and VSAT services.
The Bengaluru-headquartered Isro has said the communication payload of GSAT-30 is specifically designed and optimised to maximise the number of transponders on the spacecraft bus.