Orbital Sciences has signed a contract with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies to design, build and deliver the Azerspace/Africasat-1a communications satellite. The total cost of the project to the Azerbaijani…
Orbital Sciences has signed a contract with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies to design, build and deliver the Azerspace/Africasat-1a communications satellite. The total cost of the project to the Azerbaijani government is understood to be just over US$200m.
Based on Orbital’s STAR-2 platform, the satellite will contain 36 Ku and C band transponders serving Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Europe and Africa. The satellite is due to be launched in 2012 and will be located at 46E.
The orbital slot is held by Measat as part of a joint development agreement between the Malaysian satellite operator and the Ministry of Communications. Under the deal, Measat moved the old MEASAT-1 satellite there in 2008 and renamed it Africasat-1. That satellite currently operates in an inclined orbit and will remain at 46E until the new satellite replaces it.
Upon completion of in-orbit testing, operational control of the satellite will be handed over to the Ministry, which will continue to operate the spacecraft from its control center in Baku. Orbital will be responsible for providing the satellite and ground system.
Dr Ali Abbasov, the Azerbaijani Minister of Communications and Information Technology, stated, “The Azerspace/Africasat-1a project is a keystone to the advancement and progress of Azerbaijan as we significantly expand our communications infrastructure within our borders and our connectivity to Europe, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East.”
