Azerbaijan, Baku, April 17 / Trend H. Valiyev /
Azerkosmos has started to construct a low-orbit satellite, the Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry said today.
The company examined the possibility of taking advantage of the satellite, both within Azerbaijan and foreign markets on the basis of specific requirements and technical parameters.
The opportunities of a low-orbit satellite may be used to ensure the security of strategically important infrastructure facilities, the environment, to prevent, control and forecast emergency situations, geodesy and cartography, to resolve issues of real estate,
agriculture, regulation of transport infrastructure and communications, etc.
The negotiations are being held with the relevant agencies.
Azerkosmos announced a tender for the satellite construction, insurance and launching into an orbit to speed up the work on the construction of a low-orbit satellite.
The requirements for the second satellite program in Azerbaijan were
presented to the producing companies, with whom the negotiations are
under way.
Launching a low-orbit satellite is scheduled for 2013.
Azerbaijan's first telecommunication satellite (Azerspace-1) will be delivered to the Kourou spaceport in October 2012, and its launch is scheduled for the next three months.
The French Arianspace will send the satellite into orbit.
Azerspace's manufacturer is Orbital Sciences Corporation. An orbital position of 46 degrees east longitude has been leased from Malaysian satellite operator MEASAT.