ILS successfully launches Canadian Anik G1 communications satellite

Canada's Anik G1 multi-band communications satellite is on its way to its transfer orbit following the successful launch of the International Launch Services (ILS) Proton-M carrier vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

SSL built the Canadian satellite on behalf of Telesat. The multi-mission commercial communications satellite is based on the SSL 1300 platform and has a payload of 24 C-band transponders, 28 Ku-band transponders, and 3 X-band transponders. It will occupy the 107.3 degrees West longitude orbital slot and has an expected service life of 15 years.

Once Anik G1 enters commercial operations, South America will be able to access twice the previous capacity in C-band and Ku-band. The communications satellite will also provide extra DTH (direct-to-home) satellite TV services in extended Ku-Band, and enable X-band coverage for military forces in the Americas and a significant part of the Pacific Ocean.

Azercosmos says Azerspace-1 Ku-band satellite ready for business

Azercosmos has officially taken control of the Azerspace-1 Ku-band satellite from Orbital Sciences Corporation. The national space agency of Azerbaijan reported that the country's first telecommunication satellite is now ready for business.

The Azerbaijani satellite is currently managed by Azercosmos specialists from the main control center near the capital city of Baku. An additional control center was built in Nakhchivan, 450 km west of Baku.

Azerspace-1 launched from the ELA-3 launch facility at the Guiana Space Centre on February 8. The telecom satellite underwent trials through February and March, and is now ready for commercial exploitation. According to Communications and Information Technologies Minister Ali Abbasov, Azerspace-1 will earn revenues beginning May 1.

The Azerspace-1 project cost a total of around $230 million. This included the cost of building the two ground control stations, training the Azercosmos specialists, insurance for the satellite and related equipment, and the Ariane 5 ECA rocket carrier that boosted it into orbit. Azercosmos expects the satellite will be worth $500-600 million by the end of its 15 year lifespan.

Azerbaijan will use around 20 percent of Azerspace-1's capacity for its own domestic needs. The remaining 80 percent will be made available to commercial customers. Preliminary agreements have already been reached with several countries for the lease of Azerspace-1's satellite capacity.

Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and North Africa all lie within the coverage of Azerspace-1. The Azerbaijani satellite will offer digital broadcasting services, data transmission, and access to Internet on satellite connectivity. It can also support government communication and serve as the backbone for multiservice VSAT networks.

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