Tiny Monte Carlo (population 35,400) was never likely to need a great deal of orbital satellite capacity, although only slightly larger Luxembourg (505,000) has made a very good business out of satellite communications. Monaco, via Space Systems Int’l/Monaco S.A.M., has instead licensed certain orbital rights to Turkmenistan (population 5.1 million) in order for the oil-rich nation to put its own communications satellite into space.

Turkmenistan has contracted with Thales Alenia to build a communications satellite which will be placed at 52 degrees East in 2014. It is expected that launching Turkmenistan’s satellite into the orbit will accelerate the development of Turkmenistan’s communications systems, Internet and television, and facilitate the successful implementation of environmental programmes.

Other posts by :

1. FCC approves orbital space mirrors
2. Analysts: “Unknown Unknowns for SpaceX”
3. Ligado’s bankruptcy clean-up continues
4. Arianespace to offer ‘rideshare’ launches
5. Space industry warns Europe must do more
6. Banks increase SpaceX forecasts
7. Orbex bankruptcy details released
8. South Korea confirms LEO plan
9. Bank: “SpaceX should lobby for an MVNO”

Categories: Articles, DTH/Satellite