Under a contract with The Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Orbital designed and built the Azerspace/Africasat-1a commercial communications satellite. Based on Orbital's flight-proven STAR-2 platform, the hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite generates approximately five kilowatts of payload power and carries 36 active transponders. Azerspace/Africasat-1a provides communications services to Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Europe and Africa from an orbital location at 46 degrees East Longitude through an arrangement between the Ministry and Measat of Malaysia, which owns the rights to the orbital slot.
Orbital was also responsible for providing the satellite and ground system. Upon completion of in-orbit testing, operational control of the satellite will be handed over to the Ministry, which will continue to operate the spacecraft from its control center in Baku.
Performance:
C-band Repeater: 24 active transponders Ku-band Repeater: 12 active transponders
Antennas: Two 2.5 x 2.7 m single shell super-elliptical deployable reflectors; one 1.4 x 1.4 m single shell super-elliptical deck-mounted antenna
Stabilization: 3-axis stabilized, zero momentum
Launch Mass: Approximately 3,250 kg (7,163 lb.)
Mission Life: 15 years
Status:
Successfully Launched February 7, 2013
Coverage: Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Europe and Africa
Customer:
The Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan
