Processing .....please wait.. 
The article has been forwarded.... 
GSAT-8 launched successfully into geo-synchronous transfer orbit
Monday, 23 May 2011, 15:42 IST
Bangalore:India's latest communication satellite GSAT-8 was successfully launched on May 21 by Arianespace from Kourou in French Guiana to give a boost to direct-to-home services in the country. GSAT-8 was injected into space by European launcher Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket which lifted-off at 02.08 am (IST), with Japan's ST-2 spacecraft as co-passenger.French Guiana is a region of France on the North-East coast of South America.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the space department on the successful launch of GSAT-8 satellite, which will augument communication networks and give a boost to direct-to-home services in the country.
Weighing 3,100 kg at lift-off, GSAT-8 is one of the heaviest and high-powered satellites built by the Bangalore-headquartered Indian Space Research Organisation.
This first critical manoeuvre of raising the position of India's advanced communication satellite GSAT-8 in the geo-synchronous transfer orbit was carried out successfully.
An ISRO team, which witnessed the launch, expressed delight over the successful mission.
"I am extremely happy to announce that ISRO's Master Control Facility at Hassan near Bangalore has confirmed the reception of signals from GSAT-8 and taken charge of the command and control of GSAT-8 immediately after its injection into the geo-stationary transfer orbit," ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnan said.
"The orbit-raising of the 1,426 kg (dry mass) of GSAT-8 was conducted in the wee hours by firing the 440 Newton liquid apogee onboard the spacecraft for 95 minutes from MCF at Hassan in Karnataka (about 180 km from here)," an ISRO statement said here.
Following the manoeuvre, the orbit of the satellite has been raised to 15,786 km at its closest point to earth (perigee) and 35,768 km at its farthest point (apogee).
"The inclination of the orbit along the equatorial plane has been reduced 0.5 degree from 2.5 degree when entering the orbit. The satellite will be moving in the present elliptical orbit in 15 hours and 56 minutes," the statement noted.
The 
260-crore GSAT-8 was launched onboard Ariane-V rocket of Arianespace early Saturday from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana off the South American coast and placed in the intended geo-synchronous orbit.
"All systems onboard the satellite are normal," the statement added.
The satellite will be gradually put into the 36,000 km geosynchronous orbit over the next couple of days and its antenna and solar panels will be deployed.
The cuboid-shaped spacecraft has 24 high-power Ku-band transponders as its payload for direct-to-home (DTH) services from July 1 by state-run and private broadcasters after its induction into the Indian satellite (INSAT) system.
Along with the satellite, a two-channel global positioning system (GPS)-aided geo augmented navigation (Gagan) payload will operate in L1 and L5 bands when activated, according to the statement.
The satellite will be positioned at 55 degree east longitude and co-located with the INSAT-3E satellite.
The designed in-orbit mission life of the satellite is 12 years. The 24 Ku-band transponders will augment the capacity in the INSAT system.
Source: IANS
260-crore GSAT-8 was launched onboard Ariane-V rocket of Arianespace early Saturday from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana off the South American coast and placed in the intended geo-synchronous orbit.
"All systems onboard the satellite are normal," the statement added.
The satellite will be gradually put into the 36,000 km geosynchronous orbit over the next couple of days and its antenna and solar panels will be deployed.
The cuboid-shaped spacecraft has 24 high-power Ku-band transponders as its payload for direct-to-home (DTH) services from July 1 by state-run and private broadcasters after its induction into the Indian satellite (INSAT) system.
Along with the satellite, a two-channel global positioning system (GPS)-aided geo augmented navigation (Gagan) payload will operate in L1 and L5 bands when activated, according to the statement.
The satellite will be positioned at 55 degree east longitude and co-located with the INSAT-3E satellite.
The designed in-orbit mission life of the satellite is 12 years. The 24 Ku-band transponders will augment the capacity in the INSAT system.
Source: IANS
