The Azerbaijani government has secured a half a million dollar grant from the US Trade and Development Agency to consider developing its second spacecraft on American soil. State-owned satellite operator Azercosmos said it will use the funding to study…
The Azerbaijani government has secured a half a million dollar grant from the US Trade and Development Agency to consider developing its second spacecraft on American soil.
State-owned satellite operator Azercosmos said it will use the funding to study the feasibility of procuring its next bird with a US-based manufacturer, after tapping Virginia-based Orbital Sciences for its first.
Like Azerspace-1, which was launched by France’s Arianespace in February, its second telecoms satellite will cover Azerbaijan, its surrounding region and Africa.
Azercosmos expects to sign up a satellite contractor by 30 June 2014, reportedly pencilling in a launch to 62E by 2018.
USTDA director Leocadia Zak said: “This project will assist the Government of Azerbaijan in increasing communications options to meet burgeoning market demand.
“We are pleased to support a project to develop Azerbaijan’s network and communications in the region and to connect Azercosmos with US expertise and solutions.”
To support the US$250m of Azerspace-1, Azercosmos was able to secure ECA financing worth US$215m, with US Export-Import Bank backing a US$116.6m BNP Paribas loan for its construction, and France’s Coface guaranteeing a US$98m loan from Societe Generale and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation for the launch.
Ex-Im has been ramping up its support for the US space industry in recent years, with 2013 being the third year in a row that its authorisations have surpassed US$1bn.
Last month the bank approved a US$105.4m loan for Israel’s Spacecom Amos-6 satellite, which will be launched by US-based SpaceX, partly built by ATK and Emcore, and will secure insurance through Marsh USA.
As USTDA focuses more on the feasibility and early planning stage of a project, it has historically been involved in the space sector a lot less than its Ex-Im counterpart. Other than the Azerbaijan deal, the group has worked on space projects with Malaysia and India.
