Orbital Sciences Corporation : AZERSPACE/AFRICASAT-1 a COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SET FOR LAUNCH ABOARD ARIANE ROCKET
(Thomson Reuters ONE) -
Note: This press release has been updated and reissued to include a quote from
Elin Suleymanov, the Azerbaijani ambassador to the United States.
AZERSPACE/AFRICASAT-1 a COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE SET FOR LAUNCH ABOARD ARIANE
ROCKET
-- 30(th) Orbital-built Commercial GEOStar Satellite Will Provide Communications
Services for Azerbaijan, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia --
(Dulles, VA 6 February 2013) - Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), one of
the world's leading space technology companies, announced today that it is in
final preparations for the launch of the Azerspace/Africasat-1a commercial
communications satellite for Azercosmos, Open Joint Stock Company of the
Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of
Azerbaijan. Designed, manufactured and tested at Orbital's Dulles, Virginia
satellite production facilities, Azerspace/Africasat-1a is scheduled to be
launched aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana on February
7, 2013.
Following its launch, the satellite will undergo in-orbit testing and
verification that all subsystems are operating as planned. Once testing is
complete and the spacecraft is positioned at its orbital location, day-to-day
operations of Azerspace/Africasat-1a will be handed over to Azercosmos, which
will continue to operate the spacecraft from its control centers in Baku and
Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. These facilities were designed and built by Azercosmos
to support the installation of the ground control systems provided by Orbital,
including ground antennas, radio-frequency electronics, computer platforms, and
the software used to command, monitor and control the Azerspace/Africasat-1a
satellite.
"The launch of Azerbaijan's first telecommunications satellite marks an
important milestone in the successful partnership with U.S. industry and the
Government of Azerbaijan," said Azerbaijani ambassador to the United States Elin
Suleymanov. "We look forward to the launch of the satellite, which will address
current and future communications needs of Azerbaijan, the Caucasus Region,
Central Asia, Europe and Africa."
With an anticipated service life of 15 years, Azerspace/Africasat-1a is based on
Orbital's flight-proven GEOStar-2 platform. The hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite
will generate approximately five kilowatts of payload power and carry 36 active
transponders, providing communications services to Azerbaijan, Europe, Africa,
Middle East and Central Asia. Azerspace/Africasat-1a will operate from an
orbital location at 46 degrees East longitude through an arrangement between
Azercosmos and MEASAT Satellite Systems of Malaysia, which owns the rights to
the orbital slot.
"The Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite is a critical component for the Republic
of Azerbaijan to expand its communications infrastructure and enhance
connectivity with other parts of the world," said Mr. Christopher Richmond,
Orbital's Senior Vice President of Communications Satellites. "This is the tenth
GEOStar-2 satellite we've built in the last two years. We are now finishing our
preparations and gearing up for a successful launch."
Orbital's customer for the Azerspace/Africasat-1a satellite is the Azercosmos
Open Joint Stock Company of the Ministry of Communications and Information
Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Incorporated in 2010, Azercosmos is
the premier satellite operator in both Azerbaijan and the Caucasus region. It
will provide satellite-delivered communications services and highly reliable
satellite platforms to broadcasting, broadband, and government customers with
the launch of Azerspace/Africasat-1a and other forthcoming satellite projects.
Click here to learn more.
About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space
systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company's
primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit,
geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote
sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-
orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver
satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor
and target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-
related technical services to government agencies and laboratories. More
information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com.
# # #
Notes to editors:
Contact:
Barron Beneski (703) 406-5528
Public and Investor Relations
beneski.barron(at)orbital.com
This announcement is distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of
Thomson Reuters clients. The owner of this announcement warrants that:
(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and
other applicable laws; and
(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and
originality of the information contained therein.
Source: Orbital Sciences Corporation via Thomson Reuters ONE
[HUG#1676131]
Unternehmensinformation / Kurzprofil:
Datum: 06.02.2013 - 17:42 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 226989
Anzahl Zeichen: 6000
contact information:
Town:
Dulles
Kategorie:
Business News
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