The launch of Azerbaijan`s first communications satellite has been in spotlight in the USA, with several newspapers, including Pittsburgh Business Times, International Business Times, Houston Business Journal, Chicago Business Journal, California Chronicle, Boston Business Journal, Baltimore Business Journal, Atlanta Business Chronicle and Reuters publishing articles on the occasion.
“The launch of Azerbaijan`s first telecommunications satellite marks an important milestone in the successful partnership with U.S. industry and the Government of Azerbaijan,” said Azerbaijani ambassador to the United States Elin Suleymanov. “We look forward to the launch of the satellite, which will address current and future communications needs of Azerbaijan, the Caucasus Region, Central Asia, Europe and Africa.”
Designed, manufactured and tested at Orbital`s Dulles, Virginia satellite production facilities, Azerspace/Africasat-1a is scheduled had been launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana on February 7, 2013.
Once testing is complete and the spacecraft is positioned at its orbital location, day-to-day operations of Azerspace/Africasat-1a will be handed over to Azercosmos, which will continue to operate the spacecraft from its control centers. These facilities were designed and built by Azercosmos to support the installation of the ground control systems provided by Orbital, including ground antennas, radio-frequency electronics, computer platforms, and the software used to command, monitor and control the Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite.
With an anticipated service life of 15 years, Azerspace/Africasat-1a is based on Orbital`s flight-proven GEOStar-2 platform. The hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite will generate approximately five kilowatts of payload power and carry 36 active transponders, providing communications services to Azerbaijan, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia. Azerspace/Africasat-1a will operate from an orbital location at 46 degrees East longitude through an arrangement between Azercosmos and MEASAT Satellite Systems of Malaysia, which owns the rights to the orbital slot.
Incorporated in 2010, Azercosmos is the premier satellite operator in both Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region. It will provide satellite-delivered communications services and highly reliable satellite platforms to broadcasting, broadband, and government customers with the launch of Azerspace/Africasat-1a and other forthcoming satellite projects.

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