GSat - 8

India launched an indigenous 3,100 kg communication satellite —GSat-8 with a 12-year mission life—on Saturday at 2.08 am. The satellite promises to enhance air safety standards in Indian airspace. The India-made satellite, which was ferried to its initial geo stationary transfer orbit with the apogee (the point furthest away from the earth), at 35,861 km, and the perigee (the point closest to the earth) at 258 km by Arianespace’s hi-tech Ariane 5 rocket from the European spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana, carries the Gagan navigation payload which will strengthen air safety levels. Space experts said the goal of the Rs 774-crore Gagan (GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation) payload on board GSat-8 is to provide navigation system for all phases of an aircraft’s flight over the Indian air space. They said that with the experience of Gagan, the government will set up an autonomous regional air navigation system called the Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System. To strengthen air safety standards, codes for certain frequencies were obtained from the US Air Force and the US Department of Defence. The Gagan-based flight management system will save the airline operators’ time and money by managing climb, descent and aircraft engine performance profiles. It will also improve airport and airspace access in all-weather conditions.