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Azerbaijan can launch two artificial satellites into orbit next year

23 December 2011 08:47 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Nijat Mustafayev â€“ APA-Economics. The works on launch of Azerbaijanâ€™s first artificial satellite are underway and this will be occurred at the end of 2012, said the Minister of Communication and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov.

According to him, 2012 will be a significant year in the cosmic life of Azerbaijan: â€œThe preparatory works on launch of additional artificial satellite for observation of earth have been started and tender is expected to hold recently. May be, the works will be accelerated and second satellite will be launched in 2012, not in 2012â€.

Minister said that, 80% of artificial satellite will be leased: â€œFor purpose of risk reduction, 1 Mbit internet was considered for $350, while other countries gets $450-500. Profitability will be realized in full securityâ€.

Note that, the total cost of the project on launch of the Azersat satellite into orbit is about AZN 200 million. The contract signed with the satellite manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation, is AZN 112 million. Along with the production of satellites, these funds will be spent on creation of the structure of land management and training.

Investment in the project is expected to be paid back within 5-7 years after commissioning. Azerbaijan intends to use only 20% of satellite capacity, the rest - to rent. For example, Malaysia has proposed 40% of Azerbaijani satellite capabilities. National satellite will cover Europe (excluding Scandinavia), and half of Asia with the majority of Kazakhstan. The satellite will have on the transmission of television and radio broadcasting and the Internet.

Support for Azerbaijan in this project is provided by Silk Sat program, developed on the initiative of the Russian academician Ronald Sagdeev. The program provides the creation of a single satellite system by bringing the resources of the United States and Russia. Main management centre of the satellite will be located in Gala settlement, a reserve centre will be on the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

Remind that, the project is implemented by presidential decree ’On creation of space industry and placing telecommunications satellites into orbit’