ISRO (Indian Space Research Organistaion) successfully launched it's three-ton satellite GSAT-8 from French Guyana as India slept in the early hours of Saturday. Incidentally, this is one of the largest satellites that India has developed.
Weighing about 3100 Kg, GSAT-8 is configured to carry 24 high-power transponders and a two channel GPS-aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) payload. Once it was introduced into its intended orbit, ISRO's master control facility in Karnataka's Hassan took control of the satellite and placed it into the geostationary orbit. The satellite will be positioned at 55 degree E longitude and co-located with INSAT 3E satellite. Its designed in-orbit mission life is more than 12 years.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the department of space for the successful launch. Space secretary K Radhakrishnan confirmed that the launch had been successful, and the master control facility had taken over. The Ku-band (11-14 Gigahertz) transponders will augment the capacity of the INSAT system. While, GAGAN will improve the accuracy of positioning information received from GPS satellite through an improved network of ground-based receivers that will be made available to users in India through geostationary satellites.
