Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.21 / Trend H. Veliyev /
A delegation of the Azerbaijani Communications and IT Ministry will get acquainted with the production capacity of the American Orbital Science Corporation, Mirheydar Ismailov, the head of the ministry's State Enterprises Coordination Department, told Trend.
Ismayilov said the main goal of the visit to the United States is to get familiarized with the construction of Azerbaijan's first telecommunications satellite, Azerspace, as well as the production capacity of the Orbital Science Corporation, located in Dulles, Virginia.
The sides will discuss an action plan within the construction and launch of the satellite into orbit, as well as the design of the ground satellite equipment.
Azerspace is designed to provide digital broadcasting, Internet access, data transmission, VSAT multi-service networks, and governmental communications. Its service area will cover Europe, Central Asia and Africa.
Azerspace will be equipped with 24 transponders C band and 12 transponders Ku band. The satellite will be placed in orbit at 46 degrees east longitude. The satellite's term is 20 years. Its service area will cover Europe, Central Asia and Africa.
An orbital position for Azerspace has been leased from the Malaysian MEASAT satellite operator.
Arianespace will launch Azerspace in late 2012.