GSAT-8-The Indian communication satellite launched successfully

India's latest communication satellite GSAT-8 was successfully launched on Saturday 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 hours (IST), with Japan's ST-2 spacecraft as co-passenger.French Guiana is a region of France on the northeast coast of South America.

The 3,100 kg GSAT-8, primarily aimed at augmenting the direct-to-home TV broadcast services, was hurled into space by European launcher in a 31-minute mission on Ariane 5 rocket's 44th consecutive successful flight.

The Indian satellite, with a Japanese co-passenger ST2, was the second to be injected into the Geo Synchronous Transfer Orbit by the rocket which blasted off at 2.08 a.m. (IST) from French Guiana, a region of France on the North-East coast of South America.

GSAT-8, which is expected to become operational in four-six weeks after being inducted into the INSAT system, is equipped with 24 high-powered Ku Band transponders to augment India's Ku-band relay capabilities — particularly DTH services.Weighing 1,426 kg (dry mass) in space, 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.GSAT-8, which will give a boost to direct-to-home services in the country.

.The total cost of the GSAT-8 project is about Rs 600 crore, including around Rs 250 crore for the spacecraft, more than Rs 300 crore for launch services by Arianespace and over Rs 30 crore towards insurance, ISRO sources told PTI.An Indian Space Research Organisation team, which witnessed the launch, expressed delight over the successful mission