India’s communication satellite GSAT-30 launched successfully

India’s latest communication satellite  GSAT-30  was successfully launched from the Spaceport in  French  Guiana during the early hours today. The launch vehicle  Ariane  5  VA-251  lifted off from  Kourou  Launch  Base,  French Guiana at  2:35  am  IST  carrying  India’s  GSAT-30  and  EUTELSAT  KONNECT  for Eutelsat,  as scheduled.

After a  flight lasting  38  minutes  25  seconds,  GSAT-30  separated from the Ariane  5  upper stage in an elliptical  Geosynchronous  Transfer  Orbit.

With a  lift-off mass of  3357  kg,  GSAT-30  will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites.  GSAT-30  derives  its heritage  from ISRO’s earlier INSAT/GSAT  satellite series and will replace  INSAT-4A  in orbit.

“GSAT-30 has a  unique configuration of providing flexible frequency segments and flexible coverage.    The satellite will provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands through  Ku-band and wide coverage  covering  Gulf countries,  a  large  number  of  Asian countries and  Australia through  C-band” ISRO Chairman  Dr. K Sivan said. Dr.  Sivan also said that “GSAT-30  will provide  DTH  Television  Services, connectivity to  VSATs for  ATM,  Stock-exchange,  Television uplinking and Teleport  Services,  Digital  Satellite  News  Gathering  (DSNG)  and e-governance applications.  The  satellite  will  also  be  used  for  bulk  data  transfer  for  a  host  of emerging  telecommunication  applications.”

ISRO’s  Master  Control  Facility  (MCF)  at  Hassan in  Karnataka took over  the command and control of  GSAT-30  immediately after  its separation from  the launch vehicle.  Preliminary health  checks of  the  satellite  revealed its  normal health.

In the days  ahead,  orbit-raising manoeuvres will be performed to place the satellite in  Geostationary  Orbit  (36,000  km above the equator)  by using its onboard propulsion system.   During the  final  stages of its  orbit raising operations,  the two solar arrays and the antenna reflectors of  GSAT-30  will be deployed.    Following this,  the satellite will be put in its final orbital configuration.    The satellite will be operational after the successful completion of all in-orbit tests.