India's GSAT-30 satellite successfully launched from French Guiana
India early Friday launched a communication satellite called GSAT-30 from French Guiana on the northeast coast of South America, aiming to use the space device to improve broadcasting and connectivity in the country. European space consortium Arianespace's Ariane 5 VA-251 rocket lifted off from Kourou, the launch base, at 2:35 am IST to carry GSAT-30 for the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the Eutelsat Konnect satellite for the French telecommunications company Eutelsat. After a flight lasting 38 minutes 25 seconds, GSAT-30 separated from Ariane 5 upper stage in an elliptical Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit. “ 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,” said ISRO chairman K Sivan in a statement. Read More