Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 15 / Trend, H. Valiyev /
The Azerbaijani telecommunications satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1a will reach its orbit by Feb. 19,"Azerkosmos" told Trend on Friday.
According to the company, the solar panels and antenna reflectors are expected to open by the end of today. Afterwards, the satellite will begin moving to the design point of the operating position.
"Test operations will be conducted after Feb. 19 until early March," the company said. "Afterwards, the satellite will pass under Azerkosmos' control."
Azerspace/Africasat-1a was launched from the start complex ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre on Feb. 8.
The payload of Azerspace/Africasat-1, built on the STAR-2 platform, consists of 36 transponders (24 C-band transponders and a 12 Ku-band range). The frequency band of each transponder is 36 MHz. The satellite weights 3275 kg and it service life in orbit will reach up to 14 years.
The satellite will be launched into geostationary orbit at 46 degrees east longitude and is leased from Malaysia's Measat Satellite Systems, owned by the government of Malaysia. Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa will be included in the service area of Azerspace.
The Azerbaijani satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1 is designed to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission and the creation of VSAT multiservice networks and governmental communications.