Launch of ISRO’s GSAT-8 satellite put off to 21 May

Bangalore: The launch of Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) geo-stationary satellite (GSAT-8) on board an European Space Agency (ESA) Ariane-V rocket from Kourou in French Guiana has been postponed by a day to May 21, the state-run space organisation said late Monday.

"The launch postponement has been necessitated for certain additional inspection by the launch agency Arianespace. The timing of the launch will be confirmed soon," the Indian space agency said in a statement here.

The indigenously built 3.1-tonne (3,100kg) GSAT-8 has 24 Ku-band transponders for direct-to-home (DTH) services by state-run and private broadcasters. It will also be carrying a transmitter for GAGAN services.

The GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation system (GAGAN) is a regional Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) by the Indian government aimed at improving the accuracy of a Global Navigation Satellite System receiver by providing reference signals.

GAGAN will provide seamless coverage of air traffic from south Asia to Africa and connect to the systems of Europe and Japan. Over the coming years, the Indian airspace will get more crowded and the chances of accidents may certainly increase.

The GAGAN project receives GPS signals from international satellites and boosts their accuracy, locking a plane's position anywhere in India to within three meters.