China to help Turkmenistan to launch first communications satellite

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Dec.7 / Trend H.Hasanov/ China Great Wall Industry Corporation signed a contract with the French Thales Alenia Space, under which China will help Turkmenistan to launch the country's first communications satellite, Chinese media outlets report with reference to national company on Wednesday. According to the report, the new satellite, developed by Thales Alenia Space, will be the first within creating national communications satellite system of Turkmenistan. Its weight is 4.5 tons, while design service life -15 years. The communications satellite is scheduled to be launched from Xinchang space launching site by Chang Zheng-3B rocket-carrier in 2014. China Great Wall Industry Corporation was established in 1980. It has carried out 32 international commercial launches and launched 38 satellites into orbit so far. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az