Arianespace readies Azerbaijan Ku-band satellite for 2013 launch
2013 will bring a lot of clients and missions for Arianespace. The Company will open the new year with Flight VA121, an Ariane 5 launch to deliver the Azerspace/Africasat-1 into orbit.
The Azerbaijani satellite is a modified Star-2 platform built by Orbital Sciences Corporation based for the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Ministry is the sole shareholder in Azercosmos, the national satellite operator of Azerbaijan.
The Azerspace/Africasat-1 satellite is a hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite carrying 36 active transponders. It will provide Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Europe and Africa with C- and Ku-band satellite communications services. The satellite will be placed at 46 degrees East Longitude thanks to a deal between the Ministry and the orbital slot's owner, Measat of Malaysia.
Orbital will provide the ground system as well as the satellite itself. It will perform in-orbit testing before turning over operational control to the Ministry. Azerspace/Africasat-1 will be operated from the Ministry's control center in Baku, Azerbaijan.
On February 2013, Arianespace will launch Amazonas 3 for Spanish satellite communication operator HISPASAT and its Brazilian subsidiary, HISPAMAR Satellites. Based on a LS 1300 platform and built by Space Systems/Loral, its 33 Ku-band transponders and 19 C-band transponders will provide relay capacity alongside nine Ka-band spot beams.
2012 has been very busy for Arianespace. The Company performed six Ariane 5 missions from the Spaceport, and another one is set for December 19. Arianespace also conducted two medium-lift Soyuz launches and the maiden launch of the light-life Vega. Its Starsem affiliate launched a Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
