GSAT-8 launched, PM congratulates scientists

Bangalore: India’s advanced communication satellite GSAT-8, which is aimed at augmenting direct to home TV broadcast services, was today successfully launched by Arianespace from Kourou in French Guiana.
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.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated the Department of Space for the successful launch of the communication satellite. Singh rang up Space Secretary K Radhakrishnan at the launch site and conveyed his greetings.
With a design life exceeding 12 years, GSAT-8, which weighs 3,100 kg, is one of the heaviest and high-powered satellites built by the Indian Space Research Organisation.
The satellite carried 24 transponders to augment India?s Ku-band relay capabilities ? primarily for direct-to-home TV broadcast services ? with a coverage zone including the entire Indian subcontinent.