Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Companies from the U.S. (Orbital and Space Systems Loral), China (China Great Wall Industry Corporation) and France (Airbus Defence and Space) are participating in the tender for the construction of the Azerspace-2 satellite and the supply of ground control center.

This was reported by Azerbaijan's Space Agency Azercosmos on April 23.

The winner of the tender for the construction of a second telecommunications satellite will be determined by mid-year.

Under the terms of the tender, work on the installation of a ground station equipment must be completed no later than 2017, and the ready satellite must be sent to the launch site before the end of 2017.

Azerbaijan expects the satellite will be constructed in 30 months.

Azerspace-2 will be designed to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission, creation of multiservice networks VSAT, etc. Geostationary satellite will be equipped with transponders of Ku- and Ka-band.

International Telecommunications Satellite Organization rents 45.9 percent of the resources of the satellite.

The project for the launch of Azerspace-2 will be realized jointly with US and French companies. The orbital position of the satellite will be at 45 degrees east longitude.

Azerbaijan entered the global space club by launching into orbit its own satellite by France’s Ariane 5 ECA launcher, "Arianespace" company, in February 2013.

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

--

Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz