[Satellite TODAY Insider 12-22-10] All major subcontract partners for the Republic of Azerbaijan’s first commercial communications satellite, Azerspace/Africasat-1a, are in place, as prime contractor Orbital Sciences Corp. selected GMV to provide the satellite’s ground system, GMV announced Dec. 21.
The Spanish space development company will integrate the entire ground system for the satellite, including the satellite telemetry and tele-command system based upon GMV’s Hifly flight dynamics system. Azerspace/Africasat-1a’s payload management systems, ground equipment monitoring and control will be based on GMV’s SmartHz product.
GMV also will provide two antenna ground stations with satellite control centers in Azerbaijan and a satellite control center in Cyberjaya, Malaysia. All work is scheduled for completion by the time Azerspace/Africasat-1 is launched in July or August 2012.
Work on Azerbaijan’s first satellite began in May, when the nation’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies selected Orbital Sciences to build the spacecraft and serve as prime contractor under a 26-month deal. The satellite will be fitted with 36 Ku- and C-band transponders to deliver communications services for Azerbaijan as well as Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The Azerbaijan government also said it would use the satellite to start developing its space industry. “The Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies and Orbital plan to establish long and fruitful connections that will strengthen Azerbaijan specialists’ technical abilities,” Azerbaijan Ambassador to the United States Donald Lu said in a statement.
Other Azerspace/Africasat-1 contracts include a long-term lease agreement with Measat for use of a Malaysian orbital slot to support the new satellite and a services deal with Arianespace to launch the communications satellite on an Ariane 5 rocket.

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