Sona Mohapatra invited to view launch of ISRO's GSAT-30 satellite from France's Ariane complex

Sona Mohapatra has the rare honour of being a singer invited to a space launch. The singer has been invited to witness the launch of Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) GSAT-30 satellite launch from the Ariane launch complex in France. 

The singer has been invited to be a part of the talk show aired on French national television, while the satellite launch will be in progress. The satellite will be launched on 17 January. 

With a mission life of 15 years, the GSAT satellite is an operational communication satellite for Direct To Home (DTH), television uplink, and VSAT services. 

According to the press release, Arianespace, the European launch service provider headquarter in France, produces a curated show for each of their launches and this time it will be Mohapatra representing India at the prestigious international event. As the space agency will be launching the ISRO satellite GSAT-30 on 17 January, hence the organisers wished for someone to discuss the importance of space and its study in India.

Speaking of the opportunity, the singer said in a statement, "My childhood fascination for space is well known in my close circles. My father has a profound connection with the stars, being a navigation specialist and instructor on astro and radar navigation in the Indian navy. He used to sit us three sisters down in the lawn and make us stare into the sky and do a ‘Star Quiz’."

"While I went on to other fields of study and studied to be an engineer, I eventually found my calling in music," she continued. "That hasn’t diminished my fascination for space. This opportunity thrills me to bits. Knowing that the success of a show like The Big Bang Theory has made kids all around the world interested in science and I feel fortunate that I will be able to contribute through my participation in a small way."