Azerbaijan to sign deal on launching satellite in weeks
The agreements on launching Azerbaijan’s first communications
satellite into space will be signed by the end of November,
Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, Ali
Abbasov, says.
US Orbital Sciences Corporation has won a tender for the project. Abbasov told a news conference Friday that Azerbaijan is in talks with an implementer of the project and an insurance company. Under the preliminary version of the agreement, the Azerspace satellite is to be released using US Falcon 1 rocket launchers. However, since the US side is delaying the project, the government has begun negotiating with Ukraine’s state company Ukroboronservice on a possible use of its well-known Zenit space launch vehicles.
The project is estimated at 163 million manats (over $200 million). Around 87m manats will be spent to build the satellite, while 40m manats are required to put it in the orbit, and 16m manats – to operate a control center. The remaining amount will be spent to fully insure the satellite.
According to the minister, the communication satellite is to be launched in late 2011, though the process may be delayed for two to three months due to some technical issues.
The satellite will be operational for 15 years. The project cost will be covered within five years from its launch. Azerbaijan plans to use only 25 percent of the satellite’s resources and sell the rest to foreign operators. *
US Orbital Sciences Corporation has won a tender for the project. Abbasov told a news conference Friday that Azerbaijan is in talks with an implementer of the project and an insurance company. Under the preliminary version of the agreement, the Azerspace satellite is to be released using US Falcon 1 rocket launchers. However, since the US side is delaying the project, the government has begun negotiating with Ukraine’s state company Ukroboronservice on a possible use of its well-known Zenit space launch vehicles.
The project is estimated at 163 million manats (over $200 million). Around 87m manats will be spent to build the satellite, while 40m manats are required to put it in the orbit, and 16m manats – to operate a control center. The remaining amount will be spent to fully insure the satellite.
According to the minister, the communication satellite is to be launched in late 2011, though the process may be delayed for two to three months due to some technical issues.
The satellite will be operational for 15 years. The project cost will be covered within five years from its launch. Azerbaijan plans to use only 25 percent of the satellite’s resources and sell the rest to foreign operators. *
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