Communications satellite of Angola
AngoSat 2 is an Angolan geostationary communications satellite[3][4] that is designed to provide telecommunications and broadcasting services to Angola and the surrounding regions.[5] It is the successor to the AngoSat 1 satellite, which was launched in 2017 but experienced technical difficulties and was declared dead and a total loss.[6] AngoSat-2 was developed to replace AngoSat-1 and to enhance Angola's communication infrastructure.
Development and construction
AngoSat-2 was developed as a joint venture between the Angolan government and Russia.[4] The project was overseen by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology of Angola [pt], in partnership with RSC Energia, a Russian aerospace company. The satellite was constructed by RSC Energia at its facilities in Russia.
The development and construction of AngoSat-2 involved collaboration between Angolan and Russian engineers and scientists. The satellite was designed to be compatible with the Proton-M or Breeze-M launch vehicle, which is capable of placing the satellite into geostationary orbit.
Specifications
The payload of Angosat-2 consists of two telecommunications payloads:
- A C band payload with 12 transponders, which will be used for fixed and mobile communications, as well as for digital television broadcasting.
- A Ku band payload with 16 transponders, which will be used for broadband internet access.
The total payload mass of Angosat-2 is 1,647 kilograms. The satellite is designed to have a service life of 15 years.
Launch and deployment
AngoSat-2 was launched on 12 October 2022[4] from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The satellite was deployed into a Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) using a Proton-M/Breeze-M launch vehicle. After reaching the GTO, onboard propulsion systems were used to maneuver AngoSat-2 into its final geostationary orbit, where it will remain stationary relative to Earth's surface. It reached its final position (23E) on 3 November 2022.[7]
See also
References