First Azerbaijani Satellite Goes into Orbit

Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of the leading companies in the field of space technology, announced on February 6 that it is in the final stage of launching a commercial communications satellite for Azerspace/Africasat-1a Azercosmos.

The satellite was designed, manufactured and tested in orbiting satellite production facilities in Virginia.

The satellite launch by the Ariane 5 launch vehicle will be carried out from Kourou, French Guiana on February 7.

After the launch, the satellite will be tested in orbit. Then the ship will take its orbital position and gradually management operations will be transferred to the satellite Azercosmos, which will work with the ship from the control center in Baku and Nakhchivan.

Control centers were designed and built with the participation of Azercosmos Orbital.  Control technology includes ground antennas, electronics, computer platforms and software teams, and monitoring and control of the satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1a.

"The launch of the first telecommunications satellite of Azerbaijan is an important milestone in the successful partnership with American industry", said Azerbaijani Ambassador to the U.S. Elin Suleymanov. - "We are looking forward to start, which will address current and future needs of Azerbaijan, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Europe and Africa."

Azerspace/Africasat-1a will work within an orbital position at 46 degrees East on the basis of an agreement between Azercosmos and MEASAT Satellite Systems Malaysia, which owns the rights to the orbit.

"Satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1a is a critical component to Azerbaijan and will expand the communications infrastructure and improve communication with other parts of the world," said Mr. Christopher Richmond, Senior Vice President of Orbital Sciences Corporation. -0 -