[SatNews] The International Relations and Accounting Center of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan has selected Arianespace to launch the country’s first communications satellite.


Artistic rendition of the Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite,
courtesy of Orbital Sciences Corp. Arianespace 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 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.