(Image source from: twitter.com/@ISRO)

Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) communication satellite Gsat-30 has been launched successfully. It is the India’s first space mission of 2020 being the first satellite launch of the year and it had been launched by the European space agency’s heavy-lift launch vehicle Ariane-5 (VA 251) from French Guiana at 2:35 am (IST) on Friday.

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 flight has lasted for 38 minutes 25 seconds after which the GSAT-30 has been successful in getting placed in the elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit after getting separated from the Ariane 5 upper stage.

GSAT-30 will be serving as a replacement to ISRO’s INSAT-4A spacecraft services with enhanced coverage and it weighs 3357kg. The satellite is said to enhance television broadcasting, satellite-based news gathering and direct-to-home services.

The CEO of Arianespace, Stéphane Israël has confirmed the successful launch as he has posted a tweet.

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 pic.twitter.com/bL2DG2fuem

— Stéphane Israël (@arianespaceceo) January 16, 2020

K Sivan, the chairman of ISRO had said that a unique configuration that provides flexible frequency segments and flexible coverage is present in GSAT-30 which will be providing communication services through the Ku-band to Indian mainland and islands and wide coverage as it covers the Gulf countries and a large number of Asian countries through C-band.

The DTH television services, connectivity to VSATs for ATM, stock-exchange, Television uplinking and Teleport Services, Digital Satellite News Gathering(DSNG) and e-governance applications will be provided by GSAT-30.

The satellite is said to have a mission life of 15 years and will be joining the 19 communication satellites which are being operational currently. The GSAT-30 derives its heritage from ISRO’s earlier Insat/Gsat satellite series and is configured on Isro’s enhanced I-3K bus structure.

The command and control of GSAT-30 is taken by the ISRO’s Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka, immediately after it has separated from the launch vehicle. The preliminary health checks of the satellite has revealed the normal health of the satellite.

By Shrithika Kushangi