Arianespace
to
launch
Azerbaijan’s
first
satellite
The
International
Relations
and
Accounting
Center
of
the
Ministry
of
Communications
and
Information
Technologies
of
the
Republic
of
Azerbaijan
has
chosen
Arianespace
to
launch
the
country’s
first
communications
satellite.
Arianespace
announced
today
that
it
has
signed
a
launch
Service
&
Solutions
contract
with
IR&AC
for
Azerbaijan’s
satellite
to
be
launched
by
the
end
of
2012.
Weighing
approximately
3,000
kg
at
launch,
the
satellite
will
be
boosted
into
geostationary
transfer
orbit
by
an
Ariane
5
rocket
from
the
Guiana
Space
Center,
Europe’s
Spaceport
in
French
Guiana.
The
satellite,
fitted
with
36
active
Ku
and
C-band
transponders,
will
be
built
by
Orbital
Sciences
Corporation
of
the
United
States,
using
a
STAR-2
platform.
It
will
deliver
a
wide
range
of
communications
services
for
all
of
Azerbaijan,
as
well
as
Central
Asia,
Europe,
Middle
East
and
Africa.
“We
are
very
pleased
to
have
chosen
Arianespace,
which
is
the
leading
company
in
space
transportation,”
said
Dr.
Ali
Abbasov,
the
Azerbaijan
Minister
of
Communications
and
Information
Technologies.
“We
are
sure
that
Arianespace’s
experience
and
expertise
will
guarantee
a
successful
launch
for
our
country’s
first
satellite.”
Jean-Yves
Le
Gall,
Chairman
and
CEO
of
Arianespace,
added,
“Arianespace
is
especially
proud
of
this
opportunity
to
serve
the
Republic
of
Azerbaijan,
and
to
contribute
to
the
expansion
of
communications
services.
The
implementation
of
its
national
satellite
program
and
its
entering
into
the
satellite
market,
demonstrate
the
rapid,
successful
and
sustainable
development
of
Azerbaijan,
and
shall
contribute
to
the
development
of
the
region.
This
is
the
10th
contract
we
have
signed
so
far
this
year,
confirming
the
quality
and
competitiveness
of
our
launch
Service
&
Solutions.”
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