KazaSat-2 orbital tests to be over October 19

Talgat Mussabayev. ©Yaroslav Radlovsky

Kazakhstan plans to complete orbital tests of KazSat-2 communications satellite October 19, 2011, KazKosmos press release reads that was circulated at a briefing in Akkol September 14, Bnews.kz reports. “The satellite is undergoing flight tests (…) It is 36 000 km away from the Earth equator”, KazKosmos [Kazakhstan Space Agency] Head Talgat Mussabayev said. “Nearly all of the test are already over … successfully”. By the end of autumn, the satellite will be fully owned by Kazakhstan. “The space vehicle will be operating managed from the Kazakhstan’s space communications center”, according to Mr. Mussabayev. Late August the satellite launched July 16, 2011 reached its orbital position. KazSat 2 is a Kazakh communication satellite designed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. It 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. The unit weighs 1,330 kg, its service life is 12 years. According to Meirbek Moldabekov, Vice Chairman of KazKosmos, KazSat-2 cost $115 million and it will be recouped in 4 years’ time, if it is exploited at 80% of the capacities. It was to supplement the KazSat 1 satellite, but it has replaced Kazsat 1 due to the complete loss of the first satellite.

Kazakhstan plans to complete orbital tests of KazSat-2 communications satellite October 19, 2011, KazKosmos press release reads that was circulated at a briefing in Akkol September 14, Bnews.kz reports. “The satellite is undergoing flight tests (…) It is 36 000 km away from the Earth equator”, KazKosmos [Kazakhstan Space Agency] Head Talgat Mussabayev said. “Nearly all of the test are already over … successfully”. By the end of autumn, the satellite will be fully owned by Kazakhstan. “The space vehicle will be operating managed from the Kazakhstan’s space communications center”, according to Mr. Mussabayev. Late August the satellite launched July 16, 2011 reached its orbital position. KazSat 2 is a Kazakh communication satellite designed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. It 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. The unit weighs 1,330 kg, its service life is 12 years. According to Meirbek Moldabekov, Vice Chairman of KazKosmos, KazSat-2 cost $115 million and it will be recouped in 4 years’ time, if it is exploited at 80% of the capacities. It was to supplement the KazSat 1 satellite, but it has replaced Kazsat 1 due to the complete loss of the first satellite.