Airbus Defense And Space Assists The Republic Of Kazakhstan In Its Satellite Program

Airbus Defense and Space is preparing for the launch of KazEOSat-1 which is due to lift off on April 28 into low Sun-synchronous orbit on-board a Vega launcher from the European spaceport in Kourou (French Guiana).

KazEOSat-1 is the Republic of Kazakhstan’s first Earth observation satellite. It was built entirely by Airbus Defense and Space and is a very high-resolution satellite weighing about 2,000 pounds that will provide the Republic of Kazakhstan with a complete range of civil applications, including monitoring of natural and agricultural resources, the provision of mapping data, security applications, and support for rescue operations in the event of natural disasters.

“Like the most advanced space systems that we have built, KazEOSat-1 benefits from cutting-edge technologies, new avionics, silicon carbide, a large aperture and an agile platform,” said François Auque, Head of Space Systems. “Furthermore, through our training program, we have transferred our knowledge to the engineers from Kazakhstan who will operate the satellite, enabling Kazakhstan to control the satellite completely autonomously, and collect and use the images provided by the satellite.”

KazEOSat-1 is the high-resolution element of a space observation system that will comprise two satellites and their ground segment. The medium-resolution satellite, KazEOSat-2, is built by SSTL, a British subsidiary of Airbus Defense and Space.

These two satellites form part of “Kazakhstan’s Space Plan”, which also includes the construction in Astana, the capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan, of a satellite integration & test center, for which key equipment is being supplied by Airbus Defense and Space. In 2009, Airbus Defense and Space was chosen by Kazakhstan as a strategic partner in this Space Plan, and has already trained 60 engineers and technicians from Kazakhstan.

(Image provided by Airbus Defense and Space)

FMI: www.airbusdefenceandspace.com