Kazakhstan launches KazSat-3 satellite from Baikonur

An upgraded version of Russian launch vehicle Proton-M has taken off early in the morning today, Monday, April 28, 2014, from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan carrying the Kazakh telecommunications satellite KazSat-3 and the Russian relay satellite Luch-5V, Tengrinews reports from Baikonur.

The carrier rocket with Briz-M upper stage was launched on schedule - at 10:25 Astana time (04:25 GMT). At 20:00 Astana time (14:00 GMT) KazSat-3 will separate into its orbit. 

The new satellite will work in tandem with KazSat-2 launched in 2011. The satellites are designed so as to back up one one another in case of failures. Satellites form a complete communication system, which includes two sets of ground spacecraft controls - main "Akkol" and standby "Almaty".

This way Kazakhstan becomes more independent from foreign communications and broadcasting systems. Use of the Kazakh satellites is expected to reduce imports of telecommunication services by approximately 4 billion tenge per year (22 million USD). In addition, the launch of KazSat-3 will consolidate Kazakhstan’s orbital position with the International Telecommunication Union. 

The Kazakhstani national satellite system KazSat was created to meet the needs of Kazakh telecom operators now and in the near future. The system also improves information security of the country, provides public authorities with independent communication channels and prevents outflow of funds spent to rent foreign satellites. 

KazSat devices are able to provide DHT services of HD television broadcasting, broadband VSAT Internet access and transmit voice and data for teleconferences. Kazakhstan's domestic market in all these segments in expected to continue growing in the coming years.

ПОДЕЛИТЬСЯ

---

spacecraft satellite Proton news Kazakhstan Kazakh communications Baikonur