KazSat-2 communications satellite to be sent to Baikonur May 30

KazSat 2, a Kazakh communication satellite designed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, is to be sent to Baikonur May 30, KazTag reported, citing the Press Service of Krunichev. “KazSat-2 will be sent to Baikonur cosmodrome May 30, 2011. Proton-M /Breeze-M launcher to start KazSat-2 and SES-3(OS-2) satellites is at Baikonur”, the statement reads. According to the statement, the SES-3(OS-2) satellite by Orbital Sciences Corp. is to arrive at Baikonur June 9. The joint launch is scheduled for July 10, 2011. KazSat 2 is a Kazakh communication satellite designed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, features 12 Ku-band transponders for fixed communications and 4 Ku-band transponders for TV-transmissions and is intended for telecast, fixed satellite communication and data transmission for Kazakhstan and Central Asia. It was to supplement the KazSat 1 satellite, but will now replace Kazsat 1 due to the complete loss of the first satellite. Earlier Tengrinews.kz reported that the launch of the Kazakhstan’s satellite KazSat-2 had been put off till July 10. Launch of the satellite had already been delayed before that. March 24 it had been announced that the vehicle would be launched in June. Baikonur is the first and largest cosmodrome in the world. Located in Kazkahstan, it is rented out to Russia by 2050. Baikonur is closer to the Equator than other launch sites – a situation that facilitates geostationary orbit or orbits less inclined to reach the International Space Station (ISS). This privileged geographic placement enables the launch of more significant payloads.