Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan's first satellite, Azerspace-1, reached the orbit at 02.11 Baku time on February 8.

The telecommunications satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1 was launched through Ariane 5 ECA rocket carrier belonging to the Arianespace company of France.

Azerspace-1 was launched from the ELA-3 launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre at 01.37 Baku time.

The Azerspace satellite manufacturer is the US-based company Orbital Sciences Corporation. The satellite was designed to offer digital broadcasting services, Internet access, data transmission, and to create multiservice VSAT networks and provide for governmental communication.

Azerbaijani Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov earlier said the total value of the project on launching Azerspace-1 is about $230 million.

"The figure includes expenses on the construction of ground control stations and insurance costs," Abbasov said, adding that overall insurance expenses on the satellite are up to $17 million.

According to the minister, $16 million of this amount accounts for full coverage of the satellite's insurance and about $1 million is to be spent on guaranteeing the insurance amount.

The satellite exploitation term in the orbit will be up to 15 years. The satellite's services will cover Eastern Europe, Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa.