Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a

Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a

On the stamp of Azerbaijan, 2013
Mission type Communications
Operator Azercosmos
MEASAT
COSPAR ID 2013-006B
SATCAT № 39079
Mission duration 15 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus Star-2
Manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation
Launch mass 3,275 kilograms (7,220 lb)[1]
Start of mission
Launch date February 7, 2013, 21:36 (2013-02-07UTC21:36Z) UTC[2]
Rocket Ariane 5ECA VA212
Launch site Kourou ELA-3
Contractor Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Perigee 35,781 kilometres (22,233 mi)
Apogee 35,802 kilometres (22,246 mi)
Inclination 0.03 degrees
Period 1,436.05 minutes
Epoch 29 October 2013, 20:36:34 UTC[3]

Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a,[4] also known as AzerSat-1 (Azerbaijani: AzərSat-1) is Azerbaijan's first satellite in space. Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, it was launched into orbit on February 7, 2013 from Kourou in French Guiana at orbital positions 46° east.[5][6][7] The satellite was launched aboard Ariane 5. The satellite covers Europe and a significant part of Asia and Africa. It has transmission capabilities for TV, radio broadcasting and the internet.[8][9]

The satellite has an anticipated service life of 15 years.[10]

Cost

It is believed that the satellite cost of US$ 120 million and was established by Orbital Sciences Corporation.[11][12] Arianespace’s president Jean-Yves Le Gall emphasized that the weight of the satellite would be three tonnes.[13] In April 2011, Export-Import Bank of the United States has approved financing of this project as 85 percent of construction cost which will be provided to the Azerbaijani side in the form of a loan, while the remaining 15 percent will be paid by state funds.[14][15][16] The funds will be issued to Azerkosmos OJSC.[17]

Satellite specifications

The satellite has solar arrays with four panels per array, using UTJ Gallium Arsenide cells. It will be stabilized with a 3-axis stabilized, zero momentum system. It will have a liquid bi-propellant transfer orbit system, with a monopropellant (hydrazine) on-orbit system. Power will be held in two Li-Ion batteries with a capacity of >4840 W/hr.

Azersat/Africasat-1A will have a hybrid payload including both C- band and Ku-band antennae. There will be 24 active C-band transponders, using a 2.5 m × 2.7 m (8 ft 2 in × 8 ft 10 in) single shell super-elliptical deployable reflector, with a 1.4 m × 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in × 4 ft 7 in) single shell super-elliptical deck-mounted reflector. There will also be 12 active Ku-band transponders, using a 2.5 m × 2.7 m (8 ft 2 in × 8 ft 10 in) single shell super-elliptical deployable reflector.

The Ku-band transponders (11.2 GHz and 14.0 GHz) have a contour map that primarily covers Europe and Central Asia. The C-band contour map (3740 MHz and 5965 MHz) also covers Europe and Central Asia, as well as nearly all of Africa.[18][19]

Orbit

The satellite based on Orbital’s flight-proven STAR-2 platform and generates approximately five kilowatts of payload power for 36 active transponders.[20] Upon completion of in-orbit testing, operational control of the satellite was handed over to Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communications and IT.

Operation

The satellite's operations are controlled by a state-run company, Azercosmos, operating under the Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Communications and IT.[21] Azersat/Africasat-1A is a joint venture between Azerbaijan and satellite fleet operator MEASAT Satellite Systems of Malaysia, which owns the rights to the orbital slot at 46 degrees east longitude,[18] and which will be using about 40 percent of the satellite’s total capacity. Azerbaijan uses 20 percent, with the remaining capacity to be available for other customers.[22]

As of 2014, satellite carries 13 radio stations and 128 television channels, mostly free to air, in addition to its services to the government.[23]

Launch

The Azersat/Africasat-1A has had a planned launch for mid-2012 by Europe’s Arianespace launch consortium under a separate contract valued at $93 million. Azerbaijan and its bank consortium, led by BNP Paribas, has reportedly been negotiating with France’s Coface export-credit agency to back the launch-services contract. On 23 November 2011, it was confirmed the launch would proceed within the expected 2012 timetable.[22][24]

Future plans

The launch of its own satellite on orbit became Azerbaijan's first action in realizing prospective projects to turn itself into a country with a space industry.[25][26] In addition, deputy director of Azerbaijan National Aerospace Agency, Tofig Suleymanov in April 2011 hinted that Azerbaijan may launch second artificial satellite to study the Earth's interior and atmosphere in 2014.[27][28][29] On 26 November 2011, Head of Azercosmos, Rashad Nabiyev has reported that launch of the second satellite expected to start at 2015.[30][31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Azerspace/Africasat 1a". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "AZERSPACE 1 Satellite details 2013-006B NORAD 39079". N2YO. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  4. ↑ "MEASAT in final lap for satellite launch next week". Business Times. 2 February 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Arianespace signs deal to launch Azerbaijani satellite". news.az. Archived from the original on 8 November 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  6. ↑ "Azerbaijan signs deal with Arianespace to launch satellite". Space-Travel.com. Archived from the original on 6 November 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  7. ↑ Orbital Contracted to Build Azerbaijan’s First Satellite
  8. ↑ Baku developing satellite to kick off national space program
  9. ↑ Mohney, Doug. "New Oil Money Fueling Modest Space Dreams and Political Heartburn". Retrieved 3 June 2011.
  10. ↑ "Baku Reaches For The Stars: Azerbaijan Launches First Satellite". February 7, 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  11. ↑ Азербайджан запустит в космос первый спутник связи (Russian)
  12. ↑ Kucera, Joshua. "Azerbaijan: Baku’s Satellite Deal Sends Armenian Diaspora Groups into Orbit". Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  13. ↑ "Azerbaijan Communications Ministry prepares to sign a contract for 100 percent insurance of national satellite". abc,az. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
  14. ↑ "US Ex-Im approves loan for construction of Azerbaijani satellite Azerspace". Trend News Agency. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  15. ↑ "Экспортно-Импортный Банк США выделит кредит на строительство спутника AzerSat". Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  16. ↑ "Одобрен кредит для строительства азербайджанского спутника". Day,az. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  17. ↑ "2012 state budget to increase funds to launch national satellite into orbit". News.az. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  18. 1 2 http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publications/Azerspace_Fact.pdf
  19. ↑ "Azerspace/Africasat-1a coverages & footprints". Satlaunch. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  20. ↑ "AZERBAIJAN’S FIRST SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2012". Embassy of Azerbaijan. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
  21. ↑ Abbasov, Shahin. "Does Azerbaijan Have the Cash to Finance Its First Satellite?". Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  22. 1 2 http://www.spacenews.com/policy/110608-france-azerbaijan-space-cooperation.html
  23. ↑ Selding, Peter. "Azerbaijan’s Blueprint for a Domestic Space Industry Includes Global Competition for Optical Satellite". www.spacenews.com. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  24. ↑ "Deputy Minister: Work is on schedule for launching Azerbaijani first satellite". En.trend.az. Trend News Agency. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  25. ↑ Meeting held to coordinate orbital slots for Azersat
  26. ↑ Азербайджан выведет в космос два спутника связи (Russian)
  27. ↑ "Второй азербайджанский спутник может быть выведен на орбиту в 2014 году". Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  28. ↑ "Azerbaijan may launch another artificial satellite". Retrieved 29 April 2011.
  29. ↑ "Azerbaijani second satellite to be financed through internal funds". Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  30. ↑ "Azercosmos to launch Azerbaijan’s second national satellite by 2015". abc.az. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  31. ↑ "Azerbaijan set to launch second satellite into orbit in 2015". news.az. Retrieved 26 November 2011.

External links

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