OREANDA-NEWS. May 27, 2010. Signing of the contract on creation of the national satellite of Azerbaijan has taken place between the Center of International Connections and Calculations (CICC) of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies and Orbital Sciences Corporation company (the USA).

Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov said, signing of the contract is a great occasion and the start for development of the space industry of the country.

“Within three years we had been working  with the consulting company over this contract. This contract is a basis for the further works on an entrance of Azerbaijan to the international space market,” minister said.

A  representative of the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan Donald Lu said, Azerbaijan and the USA have been cooperating  closely within 18 years in the field of science and technologies.

“I understand that this contract is only the start. The Ministry of  Communications and Information Technologies and Orbital company plan to establish long and fruitful connections  that will strengthen Azerbaijan specialists’ technical abilities,” ambassador said.

The contract was signed by director  of CICC Jalil Jafarov, who represented Azerbaijan,  and by Vice President of Orbital Sciences Corporation company Michael Larkin, who represented the USA.

Orbital Sciences Corporation will produce the satellite  over 26 months.

On May 25, the long-term lease agreement on use of the orbital slot, belonging to Malaysia, for the Azerbaijan telecommunications satellite was concluded in Istanbul (Turkey) between Malaysian company MEASAT and CICC of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies

Azerbaijan plans to launch its  synchronous space telecommunications satellite in July to August, 2012.