NEW DELHI — The launch of India’s GSAT-10 communications satellite has been delayed by a week due to a minor error in the European Ariane 5 rocket meant to place it on orbit, the country’s top scientist says. “While reviewing the launch preparation, Arianespace found a hole in one of the hoses connecting the spaceport and launch vehicle. It is suspected one gram of dust particles might have entered the launch vehicle through the small hole,” says K. Radhakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).

New Delhi – The Indian Space Research Organization will launch the communication satellite GSAT 10 from French Guiana on Sept. 22, the ISRO’s 101st mission. “We are going to French Guiana for the launch because the satellite weighs nearly 3.5 tons, which cannot be lifted by any of our vehicles – PSLV or GSLV,” ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan says.

India has approved a long-pending policy reform allowing foreign airlines to buy stakes of up to 49% in the country’s local carriers. Though Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was previously allowed in the aviation sector, foreign airlines were prohibited from investing in Indian carriers, says Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh.