India’s communication satellite GSAT-30 successfully launched

India's latest "high-power" communication satellite GSAT-30, aimed at providing high-quality television, telecommunications and broadcasting services, was successfully launched today from French Guiana, the Indian Department of Space said.

The satellite, which has a mission life of 15 years, was launched from the spaceport in French Guiana at 2:35 am Indian time onboard the rocket Ariane 5 VA-251 which lifted off from Kourou Launch Base, French Guiana, carrying the payload and EUTELSAT KONNECT, a 3,619kg telecommunication satellite for operator Eutelsat, as scheduled.

After a flight lasting 38 minutes and 25 seconds, GSAT-30 separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, the department said in a statement, our New Delhi correspondent reports.

Weighing 3357 kg, GSAT-30 will provide continuity to operational services on some of the in-orbit satellites and provide communication services to Indian mainland and islands through Ku-band and wide coverage covering the Persian Gulf countries, a large number of Asian countries and Australia through C-band," Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Chairman K Sivan said.