Ariane-5 launches India's GSAT-8 from French Guiana

Guiana Space Centre, Kouru: It was a perfect launch. At exactly 2.08 a.m. IST on Saturday, Ariane-5, the 800-tonne launcher, carrying two communications satellites weighing over 9,000 kg in its nose fairing, blasted off into space.

India's GSAT-8 — the largest and heavies satellite built by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its partners — was one of the two “co-passengers” on the flight. The other, an even heavier satellite weighing five tonnes, was from Singapore and Taiwan.

Although the launch window was 90 minutes long, the countdown began on the dot at 17.38 local time and on the word “top” from the Jupiter Control Room, the cryogenic main engine was ignited. Just 7.05 seconds later the booster rockets roared into life each containing 250 tonnes of dry powder that gave a thrust of 13,000 tonnes.

As the launcher rose vertically, emitting a deafening roar with a blinding orange-red tail flame, there was palpable tension in the control room. For a full six seconds, the Ariane 5 climbed vertically then turned east, its flame appearing smaller until it disappeared from view amid the thick cumulus clouds hanging low over the equator.

‘Work not over'

But all was not over for the team of Indian scientists led by ISRO Chairman K. Radhakrishnan and T.K. Alex, Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre in Bangalore.

It was only 31 minutes and 17 seconds later, when the GSAT-8 successfully separated from the final stage at an altitude of 249 km above the equator, a round of applause broke out.

Minutes later, Dr. Radhakrishnan announced that the ISRO's Master Control Facility (MCF) at Hassan near Bangalore confirmed the reception of signals from the GSAT-8. “They have taken charge of the command and control of the GSAT-8 immediately after its injection into the geo-stationary transfer orbit,” he said.

Speaking to The Hindu later, Dr. Radhakrishnan said he felt “relief and happiness” but warned that “all is not over yet.”