Azercosmos
{{Infobox company
| name = Azercosmos OJSCo
| logo = File:Azerkosmoslogo.jpg
| type = Open Joint Stock Company
| industry = Satellite operations
| services = Communication services,
Earth observation
| founded = {{Start date and age|2010|05|03}}
| founder =
| hq_location_city = Baku, Azerbaijan
| hq_location_country =
| area_served =
| key_people = Samaddin Asadov {{cite web |title=Chairman of the Board of Azercosmos |url=https://azercosmos.az/about-us-management?lang=en |website=Azercosmos}}
| owner = Government of Azerbaijan
| num_employees = 20349
| num_employees_year =
| parent = (Parent Company AZCON Holding)
| website = {{URL|azercosmos.az/}}
}}
Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos) ({{langx|az|Azərbaycan Respublikasının Kosmik Agentliyi - Azərkosmos }}) is a public legal entity under Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan and successor of Azercosmos Open Joint Stock Company,{{cite web|url=https://president.az/articles/51300|title=Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the establishment of the public legal entity “Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azercosmos)”}} the first satellite operator in the Caucasus region entirely owned by the Government of Azerbaijan. With the telecommunication satellite Azerspace-1, the company provides broadband and broadcast services to customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ukrinform.net/info/azers.html |title=AZERSPACE-1 SATELLITE |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005349/https://www.ukrinform.net/info/azers.html |archive-date=2018-02-07 |url-status=live }} With the Earth Observation satellite Azersky, Azercosmos provides satellite imagery and geoinformation services.{{Cite web |url=https://www.azernews.az/business/121663.html |title=AzerSky satellite to help monitor agricultural crops in Azerbaijan |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206190218/https://www.azernews.az/business/121663.html |archive-date=2018-02-06 |url-status=live }} Since 2021 the Chairman of the Broad of Azercosmos is Samaddin Asadov.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-16 |title=Kosmik Agentlikdə yüksək vəzifəyə təyinat |url=https://oxu.az/politics/503736 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Oxu.Az |language=az}}{{Cite web |title=For Azerbaijan, the sky is not the limit |url=http://www.bbc.com/storyworks/future/azercosmos/for-azerbaijan-the-sky-is-not-the-limit |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=www.bbc.com}}
History
During a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers in 2008, President Ilham Aliyev gave a task on "establishment of a modern aerospace industry in Azerbaijan and launch of country’s telecommunication satellite into orbit".{{Cite web |url=http://en.president.az/articles/7257 |title=Ilham Aliyev observed the launch of the first Azerbaijani telecommunications satellite "Azerspace-1" into orbit |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207010812/http://en.president.az/articles/7257 |archive-date=2018-02-07 |url-status=live }} Implementation of the task was assigned to the Ministry of Communication and High Technologies.
To realize the project, the Ministry applied to the International Telecommunication Union for the orbital slot allocation process. Concurrently, in August 2009, President Aliyev signed a decree on approval of a state program to establish and develop the space industry in Azerbaijan.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mincom.gov.az/assets/Uploads/Order-of-President-on-approval-Space-R.doc |title=Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan On approval of State Program on establishment and development of space industry in the Republic of Azerbaijan |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418193925/http://mincom.gov.az/assets/Uploads/Order-of-President-on-approval-Space-R.doc |archive-date=2016-04-18 |url-status=live }} In May 2010, the Ministry of Communication and High Technologies reached an agreement with Measat Satellite Systems of Malaysia to lease the geostationary position at the 46° East orbital slot, which belongs to the Malaysian government.{{Cite web |url=https://www.azernews.az/nation/48416.html |title=Azerspace-1 satellite launching date announced |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206190331/https://www.azernews.az/nation/48416.html |archive-date=2018-02-06 |url-status=live }} As a result of the tenders announced on manufacturing and launch of the first Azerbaijani telecommunication satellite, US-based Orbital Sciences Corporation was chosen to construct the satellite, and French company Arianespace was selected to launch it.{{Cite web |url=http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/azerspaceafricasat-1a-is-prepared-for-arianespaces-first-ariane-5-launch-in-2013-2/ |title=Azerspace/Africasat-1a is prepared for Arianespace’s first Ariane 5 launch in 2013 |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005222/http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/azerspaceafricasat-1a-is-prepared-for-arianespaces-first-ariane-5-launch-in-2013-2/ |archive-date=2018-02-07 |url-status=live }}
On May 3, 2010, Presidential Decree ref. 885 established Azercosmos OJSCo with the purpose of implementing the launch, operation, and exploitation of telecommunication satellites for the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In October 2017, Azercosmos OJSCo was moved out from under the Ministry of Transport, Communication and High Technologies, and became accountable directly to the Cabinet of Ministers.{{Cite web |url=http://en.apa.az/azerbaijan-economy/infrastructure/azerbaijani-president-issues-order-on-establishment-of-azercosmos-ojsc.html |title=Azercosmos OJSC taken out from subordination of Ministry of Transport, Communication and High Technologies |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005044/http://en.apa.az/azerbaijan-economy/infrastructure/azerbaijani-president-issues-order-on-establishment-of-azercosmos-ojsc.html |archive-date=2018-02-07 |url-status=dead }}
In October 2023, Azerbaijan signed up to China’s international moon base project, ILRS.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Andrew |date=2023-10-08 |title=Azerbaijan signs up to China’s international moon base project |url=https://spacenews.com/azerbaijan-signs-up-to-chinas-international-moon-base-project/ |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}
Satellites
File:Stamps of Azerbaijan, 2013-1070.jpg on the stamp of Azerbaijan, 2013]]
- Azerspace-1 – telecommunication satellite; provides radio and television broadcast services, encrypted communication, and high-speed data transmission. The satellite covers Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus.{{Cite web |url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/azerspace-1.htm |title=Azerspace/Africasat 1a |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030103042/http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/azerspace-1.htm |archive-date=2013-10-30 |url-status=live }} It was launched in February 2013 and is equipped with 36 transponders: 24 in C-band and 12 in Ku-band. It is located at 46° East longitude. The anticipated lifespan of Azerspace-1 is 15 years.{{Cite web |url=https://www.satbeams.com/satellites?norad=39079 |title=Azerspace |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005059/https://www.satbeams.com/satellites?norad=39079 |archive-date=2018-02-07 |url-status=live }}
- Azerspace-2 – telecommunication satellite; was launched on September 25, 2018; to provide broadband and broadcast services to customers in Europe, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and South Asia.{{Cite web |url=http://cbc.az/en/en/news/azercosmos-azerspace-2-satellite-to-be-launched-in-april1515654599 |title=AZERCOSMOS: AZERSPACE-2 SATELLITE TO BE LAUNCHED IN APRIL |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206193059/http://cbc.az/en/en/news/azercosmos-azerspace-2-satellite-to-be-launched-in-april1515654599 |archive-date=2018-02-06 |url-status=dead }} The satellite is planned to be equipped with 35 transponders in Ku-band, and will be located at 45° East longitude. The lifespan of Azerspace-2 is expected to be 15 years.{{Cite web |url=http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-selected-to-launch-azerspace-2intelsat-38-satellite-at-45-degrees-east/ |title=Arianespace Selected to Launch Azerspace-2/Intelsat 38 Satellite at 45 Degrees East |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005224/http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-selected-to-launch-azerspace-2intelsat-38-satellite-at-45-degrees-east/ |archive-date=2018-02-07 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://en.azvision.az/news/76793/azerspace-2-satellite-to-be-launched-in-early-2018.html |title=“Azerspace-2” satellite to be launched in early 2018 |access-date=2018-02-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005119/https://en.azvision.az/news/76793/azerspace-2-satellite-to-be-launched-in-early-2018.html |archive-date=2018-02-07 |url-status=live }}
- Azersky – Earth Observation Satellite. In December 2014, Azercosmos took over the rights to operate and commercialize Azersky, a high resolution ({{convert|1.5|m|ft}} black and white and {{convert|6|m|ft}} color) optical Earth observation satellite. The imaging swath width of Azersky is {{convert|60|×|60|km|mi}}; the maximum is {{convert|60|×|600|km|mi}}.{{cite web|title=ESA SPOT-7 Instruments|url=https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/missions/spot-7|publisher=ESA|access-date=May 22, 2023}}
Services
Azercosmos operates a teleport in Baku, which receives signals via intermediary satellites, metronet, and fiber. This teleport enables uplink services, data distribution, and internet connectivity.{{cite web |title=Teleport |url=https://azercosmos.az/about-services/teleport?lang=en |website=Azercosmos |access-date=10 December 2021}}