Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a

< Azerspace-1
Azerspace-1/Africasat-a
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorAzercosmos
COSPAR ID2013-006B
SATCAT no.39079
Mission duration15 years
Spacecraft properties
BusGEOStar-2
ManufacturerOrbital Sciences Corporation
Launch mass3,275 kilograms (7,220 lb)
Start of mission
Launch dateFebruary 8, 2013, 21:37 (2013-02-08UTC21:37Z) UTC
RocketAriane 5ECA VA212
Launch siteKourou ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Perigee altitude35,781 kilometres (22,233 mi)
Apogee altitude35,802 kilometres (22,246 mi)
Inclination0.03 degrees
Period1,436.05 minutes
Epoch29 October 2013, 20:36:34 UTC
Transponders
Band12 Ku-band transponders
24 C-band transponders
Coverage areaEurope, Central Asia
(Ku-band and C-band)
Africa (C-band only)

Azerspace-1/Africasat-1a', is Azerbaijan's first satellite in space. Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, it was launched by Ariane 5 into orbit on February 7, 2013 from Kourou in French Guiana at orbital positions 46° east. The satellite covers Europe and a significant part of Asia and Africa. It is operated by the Azerbaijani company Azercosmos and has transmission capabilities for TV, radio broadcasting and the internet.

The satellite has an anticipated service life of 15 years.