New satellite control center built in Azerbaijan
By Amina Nazarli
Construction of the control center for Azerbaijan’s Azersky low-orbit satellite has already been completed.
The control center is located in the Main Satellite Control Center, some 37 kilometer of the Baku-Shamakhi route, a source close to the issue told Trend.
The construction was carried out jointly by Azercosmos OJSC and French Airbus Defense and Space.
Currently, Azersky and SPOT 6 satellite of Airbus Defense and Space are used to provide a more qualitative service for remote probing of the Earth.
One of the advantages of the control center is the opportunity created for using the resources of the Pleiades 1A and 1B satellites, commercial rights of which belong to Airbus Defense and Space. Satellites grouping will create ample opportunities for remote observation of Earth's surface and increase the efficiency of obtaining new images.
Azercosmos is the first satellite operator in the Caucasus. The company's strategic development plans include the launch of a second telecommunications satellite Earth observation services in the coming years.
Today, Azercosmos provides telecommunication services through the Azerspace-1 satellite, launched on February 8, 2013.
Service area of this satellite includes Europe, Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. Such countries as Malaysia, Russia, Germany, Ukraine, Egypt, Georgia, UAE, Lebanon, Cameroon, the United Kingdom, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Estonia and Belarus use Azerspace-1’s services.
In December 2014, Azercosmos OJSC took over the rights to operate and commercialize Azersky, high resolution (1.5 meter imagery products) optical Earth observation satellite, and entered into the commercial business of Earth observation services, including geo-information services. Income of Azerbaijan from the operation of Azersky is expected to exceed $200 million within the next decade.
The company's strategic development plan also includes the launch of a second geostationary satellite Azerspace-2, which is expected to be placed at the orbital position of 45 degree of eastern longitude.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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