FINAL REPORT: DEFINITIONAL MISSION TO AZERBAIJAN:
AZERCOSMOS – AZERSPACE-2 FEASIBILITY STUDY
August 07, 2013
Space Partnership International
13
Azerspace-1: Europe Ku-Band Beam EIRP
Azerspace-1: Central Asia Ku-Band Beam EIRP
Azerbaijan
Turkey
Georgia
Ku-band: Europe, ME
High
Fringe
Area
Azerbaijan
Ku-band: Central Asia
High
Fringe
Area
Pakistan
Afghanistan
Kazakhstan
& Uzbekistan
FINAL REPORT: DEFINITIONAL MISSION TO AZERBAIJAN:
AZERCOSMOS – AZERSPACE-2 FEASIBILITY STUDY
August 07, 2013
Space Partnership International
15
Figure 2: Image of Azerspace-1 Satellite
Current Project: Azerspace-2
Background
In late 2012, months before the successful February 2013 launch of Azerspace-1, Azercosmos
committed to launch a second satellite, Azerspace-2, to “bolster its space asset base and
capabilities.”
9
The President of Azercosmos announced that Azerspace-2 would follow within 2-3
years of Azerspace-1.
10
Technical Approach
Satellite Design
Design details for Azerspace-2 will be made available once Azercosmos’ Chief Technical Officer
(CTO) has completed work on the design concept. The Contractor selected for the feasibility study
will be required to assess the suitability of the Azerspace-2 orbital position, design concept
specifications, capacity plans, platform compatibility, transponder sizing and configuration,
frequency plan,
interference assessment, and ground segment design requirements.
Contractor expects that there will be changes to the spacecraft configuration in response to the
evolving demands of the global marketplace for satellite services. The new design intends to
incorporate C-, Ku- and Ka-band frequencies. Whereas the first satellite was based on Orbital
Sciences Corporation’s successful Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) Star spacecraft bus, the new
Azerspace-2 design, with its incorporation of Ka-band, will potentially add to the project’s
complexity, which could translate into longer manufacturing times and higher costs.
We do, however, expect the second satellite platform to include the standard components for the
following subsystems:
1.
Propulsion
2.
Electrical Power
3.
Thermal control
4.
Mechanisms
5.
Avionics
6.
Attitude Determination Control
Additional specifications and capabilities, however, will be determined upon the completion of
several factors, including the feasibility study:
9
USTDA DM
Application
10
Ibid.
FINAL REPORT: DEFINITIONAL MISSION TO AZERBAIJAN:
AZERCOSMOS – AZERSPACE-2 FEASIBILITY STUDY
August 07, 2013
Space Partnership International
16
Universal services;
Platform designed
for compatibility; able to accommodate all
types of commercial
communications payloads and all major commercial launchers.
Payload Power:
TBD
Manufacturer:
TBD
Transponders:
TBD
Weight:
TBD
Satellite Life:
15 years
Services and Beam Coverage
Based on interviews with the Azercosmos CTO, Contractor expects that Azerspace-2 will provide
C-and/or Ku-band transponders covering Africa, providing digital video and audio broadcasting,
backhaul and trunking services, VSAT and telecommunication services, and high-speed internet
access trunking. In addition, Ka-band transponders will provide TV broadcasting and
telecommunications services, high-quality and stable communication
platforms for government and
corporate clients, and low-cost, transportable network access for government, businesses, and
consumers. Upon completion of the Azerspace-2 design concepts by the CTO, the contractor
selected for the feasibility study will be required to review the proposed beam coverage plans.
Terrestrial infrastructure
Azercosmos will use the existing main and backup ground control centers to manage and operate
Azerspace-2, with the addition of Ka-band equipment as necessary.
Benefits resulting from the Azerspace-2 design versus the Azerspace-1 satellite
The stated use of the Ka-band spot beam architecture on Azerspace-2 would enable Azercosmos to
service significantly more customers compared with Azerspace-1. Spot beam architecture can
support broadband internet access that uses both Ka-band frequencies for the data transmission.
Additionally, the focused spot beams would enable the re-use of frequencies, or the ability of
Azerspace-2 to re-use the same frequency multiple times for different users or applications without
interfering with itself. This new capability potentially translates to lower per/Mb costs to the
customer.
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Depending on how the design is implemented, would determine the specific mix of performance,
capacity, and flexibility. For example, the use of Ka-band, spot beams, steerable beams, and shared
VSAT hubs will enable Azercosmos to become a full-service satellite operator by being able to
offer multiple managed satellite applications and Virtual Network Operator (VNO) support to users
in different user segments across multiple regions from a single shared platform.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
Satellite technology falls under ITAR regulations whose purview has recently migrated from U.S.
State Department to the Department of Commerce. On May 24, 2013, the Departments of
Commerce and State issued important proposed changes to U.S. satellite export controls. These
changes are expected to reduce significantly the administrative and licensing burdens associated
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The smaller and more concentrated spot beams support higher performance in a clear sky environment.