Azerbaijan, Baku, July 29 / Trend, N. Ismayilova /
Azerbaijan has begun to work on the second satellite, which will be used to study the Earth, environmental issues, prevention and emergency management, Communications and IT Minister Ali Abbasov said on Friday.
He said the second satellite will be placed on a low geostationary orbit.
Abbasov said the first satellite will be launched in the fourth quarter of next year. At present, all work is being carried out in accordance with the schedule.
The cost of manufacturing the Azerspace satellite is $120 million, 85 percent of which will be provided to the Azerbaijani side in the form of a US Ex-Im loan; the remaining 15 percent will be paid by state funds.
Azerspace's manufacturer is Orbital Sciences Corporation. An orbital position of 46 degrees east longitude has been leased from Malaysian satellite operator MEASAT. French Arianspace will send the satellite into orbit.