Russia To Manufacture Satellite For Kazakh Government

Russia’s state-owned Khrunichev Research and Production Center has received a contract to manufacture the first national geostationary telecommunications satellite for the government of Kazakhstan, according to the TASS news agency. The satellite project is estimated to cost $100 million. At present, Kazakhstan pays some $30 million each year to lease capacity on foreign-owned satellites. Under preliminary terms of the contract, the satellite would weigh up to 1,380 kilograms (3,042 pounds) with a payload of 350 kilograms (772 pounds) and have a life-span of 12 to 15 years.