Azerspace-2's position finalized

/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

The orbital position of the second Azerbaijani telecommunication satellite has been finalized.

Azerspace-2 satellite will be placed at 45 degrees east longitude, as a result of a strategic agreement signed by International Telecommunications Satellite Organization and Azercosmos, Azerbaijan’s space agency.

"The sides will closely cooperate in the design of the satellite Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38, use their strength and capabilities in the process of production and development phases," Intelsat reported.

The satellite is planned to be launched in 2017. The first Azerbaijani satellite Azerspace 1 was placed into orbit in February 2013.

Intelsat will also act as a side, from which Azerbaijan leases satellite orbits for Azerspace-2.

The construction of the satellite will take 30 months. The tender for the second satellite program will involve six companies.

Azerspace-2 is expected to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission, creation of multiservice networks VSAT, etc.

Intelsat rents 45.9 percent of its resources.

Azerbaijan entered the global space club by launching into orbit its own satellite by France’s Ariane 5 ECA launcher, "Arianespace" company.

Azerspace-1 telecommunication satellite covers Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa. The satellite was designed to offer digital broadcasting services, internet access, and data transmission. It also creates multiservice VSAT networks and provides governmental communication services.

Some 80 percent of the satellite's resources are available for commercial purposes. Currently, Azerspace-1 broadcasts cover 120 TV and Radio channels.

Baku is expected to earn $500-600 million by operating the satellite first satellite in 17 years.

Azercosmos also jointly uses the low-earth-orbit satellites SPOT 6 and SPOT 7 together with the French company "Airbus Defence and Space".

Each of these satellites is capable of daily surveying an Earth's surface area up to three million square kilometers.