GSAT-30
| Company type | Satellite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | January 16, 2020 |
| Founder | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) |
| Headquarters | Bengaluru , India |
| Products | Telecommunications satellite services |
| Owner | Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) |
| Parent | ISRO Satellite Centre, Space Applications Centre |
GSAT-30 is a satellite dedicated to telecommunications, developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Positioned in a Geostationary orbit at 83.0° East longitude, it delivers communication services throughout Asia and Australia. Constructed by the ISRO Satellite Centre in collaboration with the Space Applications Centre, GSAT-30 utilizes the I-3K satellite platform, weighing 3357 kg at launch and generating 6000 watts of power.
The satellite was deployed on 16 January 2020 at 21:05 UTC via an Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle (VA-251) from the Kourou. Designed for a mission lifespan of 15 years, it carries 12 transponders each in the C-band and Ku-band frequencies, enabling broad telecommunications coverage within its operational regions.
As part of the ongoing GSAT series following GSAT-31, GSAT-30 strengthens ISRO’s commercial satellite communication capabilities.
Mission
Equipped with 12 Ku band transponders serving the Indian mainland and its islands, along with 12 C-band transponders extending coverage over Asia and Australia, this satellite replaces the aging INSAT-4A. It enhances telecommunication infrastructure across the Indian subcontinent by supporting VSAT networks, television uplinks, digital satellite news gathering, direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting, and other communication platforms. This launch represents ISRO’s 41st communication satellite mission and its 24th deployment through Arianespace.
Satellite
GSAT-30 is built upon ISRO's I-3K bus architecture and was assembled under a consortium led by Alpha Design Technologies Ltd. at ISRO’s Satellite Integration and Test Establishment located in Bengaluru.
Launch
The Ariane 5 rocket (flight VA251) carried GSAT-30 into space from French Guiana on 16 January 2020 at 21:05 UTC (02:35 IST on 17 January). After completing three orbit-raising maneuvers over approximately two hours and twenty-nine minutes, it achieved its designated geostationary slot at 81° East by 25 January 2020.
The combined expenditure for launching GSAT-30 alongside GSAT-31 via Arianespace is estimated at Rs 950 crore.