Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 6
By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend:
The service life of Azerbaijan's first telecom satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1a in the orbit was extended to 17 years, according to a message from Azercosmos OJSC, a satellite operator of Azerbaijan.
Earlier, the spacecraft's manufacturer, the US-based Orbital Sciences Corp., indicated in the documents about the satellite's technical parameters that its operation period in orbit would be 15 years.
"Thanks to the successful launch and effective management of the satellite over the past two years, the previously planned operation period was extended to 16.7 years," the message read.
Azerspace/Africasat-1a was launched from the ELA-3 launch complex of the Guiana Space Centre on February 8, 2013 on the Ariane 5 ECA carrier rocket of the French company, Arianespace.
Currently, experts of the Azercosmos OJSC from the main and backup control centers control the satellite.
The satellite's payload consists of 36 transponders (24 C band and 12 Ku band transponders). The frequency band of each transponder is 36 MHz. The satellite weighs approximately 3,275 kilograms.
The service area of the Azerspace/Africasat-1a covers the countries in Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Middle East and Africa.
Azerbaijan's telecommunications satellite Azerspace/Africasat-1a is designed to render the digital broadcasting, Internet access, and data transmission services, as well as the creation of VSAT multiservice networks, and the provision of government communications.
Edited by CN
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