Turkmenistan Schedules Launch Of First Space Satellite For 2014

Turkmenistan scheduled the launch of the first national satellite for late 2014, the Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper reported.



At present, French company Thales Alenia Space, which won a tender, is engaged in the development and construction of the spacecraft, under the contract signed with the Turkmen government.



In the Turkmen market, Thales is known as a developer and supplier of advanced high-tech aeronavigation equipment for the country's airports since 1991.



The article says that now the company should create a Turkmen satellite and control system of the satellite from the Earth, launch it into space, ensure round-the-clock assistance in satellite management within 15 years, and to prepare highly qualified specialists for Turkmenistan in this field.



At this stage, Turkmenistan services Russian satellite "Yamal", owned by JSC "Gazprom Space Systems."



Digital national TV broadcasting and many Russian TV channels are broadcasted in Turkmenistan through this satellite.



The Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper notes that the number of TV broadcasting channels will increase with the emergence of own satellite, and it will be possible to use the satellite for international backbone TV broadcasts, integrated information exchange, including distance education and telemedicine.



Use of own spacecraft will establish high-quality telephone service, in the first place, with hard-to-reach areas of the country, while eliminating the need to lay expensive cables.



By using the satellite it is possible to monitor oil and gas pipelines (SKADA system).



Furthermore, the launch of the communication satellite is also cost-effective step. The geographical position of Turkmenistan will allow it to act as a transit country in channels broadcasting in Europe and Asia in the presence of the satellite, covering a large area.



Turkmen communication satellite will provide TV broadcasts, radio telephone, telegraph and other types of communication between ground stations, placed at a distance of up to 10,000-15,000 kilometers from each other.



Turkmenistan's national spacecraft, after being launched into a circular equatorial orbit at 35,786 kilometers distant from ground surface, will "hang" stable over one point of the ground surface - over the territory of Turkmenistan.