GSAT-8 or INSAT-4G is communication satellite. It was constructed by the

Indian Space Research Organisation The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO; ) is the national space agency of India, headquartered in Bengaluru. It operates under the Department of Space (DOS) which is directly overseen by the Prime Minister of India, while the Chairman o ...

, as part of INSAT system. GSAT-8 was launched on May 21, 2011, from Kourou,

French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label= French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic coast of South America in the Guianas ...

. The rocket, an

Ariane 5 Ariane 5 is a European heavy-lift space launch vehicle developed and operated by Arianespace for the European Space Agency (ESA). It is launched from the Centre Spatial Guyanais (CSG) in French Guiana. It has been used to deliver payloads in ...

was the carrier, marketed by the European Arianespace. First satellite to carry

GAGAN Gagan may refer to: Given name * Gagan Bhagat, Indian politician and member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly * Gagan Biyani, Indian American serial entrepreneur, marketer, and journalist *Gagan Singh Bhandari, Nepalese General *Gagan B ...

payload followed up by GSAT-10 and in-orbit spare GSAT-15.

Launch

Prior to launch, the spacecraft was transported from India to

Cayenne – Rochambeau Airport Cayenne (; ; gcr, Kayenn) is the capital city of French Guiana, an overseas region and department of France located in South America. The city stands on a former island at the mouth of the Cayenne River on the Atlantic coast. The city's mot ...

by an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft. The success of the launch is said to have made up for the previous loss of two satellites on the indigenous GSLV rocket. GSAT-8 was co-located with INSAT-3E at 55°E.

References

{{Orbital launches in 2011 GSAT satellites INSAT satellites Spacecraft launched in 2011 2011 in India Communications satellites in geostationary orbit Ariane commercial payloads