NEW DELHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch its heaviest satellite GSAT-11 weighing over 5.7 tons from the European spaceport in French Guiana on November 30.

The communications satellite, which will help increase internet speed in the country, was earlier this year recalled from French Guiana in order to check for possible glitches. ISRO felt the need to take the unusual step of recalling the satellite in April as a precaution especially after the failure of the GSAT-6A satellite mission around the same time.

The communications satellite went out of control and signal from it was lost soon after its launch on March 29 and two orbit-raising manoeuvres. Based on the advice of its senior scientists and experts, ISRO not only recalled GSAT-11 from the European launchpad but also checked all components of the heaviest satellite, including the electrical circuit. Talking to TOI, ISRO chairman K Sivan said, “After a series of negotiations, Arianespace has finally agreed to launch GSAT-11 this year itself and fix November 30 as the date of the launch.”