Arianespace postpones GSAT-8 launch by a day

Article Posted on : - May 17, 2011

KOUROU (BNS): European space transport company Arianespace has postponed the launch of Indian communications satellite GSAT-8 by a day.

The satellite, originally scheduled to lift off on May 19 local time (in the early hours of May 20 IST), has been postponed by one day, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Monday.

It will now be launched at 2038 GMT (0208 a.m. IST) on Friday next week.

This postponement is due to certain additional inspection that has been taken up by the launch agency Arianespace, ISRO said.

The ISRO-built multi-role spacecraft will be launched by an Ariane 5 rocket from the European spaceport at Kourou in French Guiana.

The GSAT-8 will have a lift-off mass of 3,100 kg and it will be accompanied by Japan’s ST-2 telecommunications satellite which will be launched by Ariane 5 on its VA202 mission.

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