National space operator to support economic development
By Rashid Shirinov
Azerbaijan’s Azercosmos OJSC will operate satellites and other devices used at different heights in order to support the country’s socio-economic development, commercial, scientific activities and for state purposes. This is stated in the amendments to the decision of Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers “On approval of Charter and structure of Azerkosmos OJSC.”
Based on the approved development directions, the Cabinet of Ministers will approve the company’s long-term development plan, the provisions of its structural subdivisions, branches and representative offices, as well as the statutes of the legal entity structures subordinated to the OJSC.
The amendments also say that Azercosmos will represent Azerbaijan in the INTERSPUTNIK International Organization of Space Communications, the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization, the European Space Agency, the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and will also cooperate with space agencies and organizations of other countries in the field of peaceful use of space.
Azercosmos is also tasked with putting forward relevant proposals for the implementation of international treaties on the use of outer space for peaceful purposes, to which Azerbaijan is a party, dissemination of space science and technology, organization of meetings, conferences, seminars and other events within Azerbaijan and abroad.
The total revenues of Azercosmos OJSC from the operation of Azerspace-1 and Azersky satellites have already reached $91 million.
Azerspace-1, the nation’s first satellite, was launched into orbit on February 8, 2013. At present, its service area includes countries of Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The revenues from the operation of Azerspace-1 amount to $72 million so far.
In December 2014, Azercosmos took over the rights to operate and commercialize Azersky, high resolution (1.5 meter imagery products) optical Earth observation satellite, and entered into the commercial business of Earth observation services, including geo-information services. The revenues from the operation of Azersky satellite currently amount to $19 million, while they are expected to exceed $200 million within the next decade.
In addition, Azercosmos plans to launch the new satellite Azerspace-2 in the first half of 2018. The satellite will be placed at a geostationary orbit 45 degrees east longitude and its service area will cover the countries of Europe, Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
---
Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz