The Angolan satellite AngoSat-1, built by Russia, was lost a few hours after its launch in 2017. The additional protocol to the manufacturing contract provided for the construction of a new replacement vehicle in the event of failure .
AngoSat-2, the second Angolan communications satellite will be put into orbit next October. This was stated on Monday August 29 by the Russian company Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company (ISS-Reshetev), manufacturer of the satellite. According to the company, the satellite was delivered to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on July 26.
It was in April 2018 that Russia and Angola agreed to build AngoSat-2. This is actually compensation from Russia to Angola for the AngoSat-1 satellite, worth $327.6 million, lost in space after its launch in 2017. RSC Energia s was awarded the contract for the construction of the new satellite before it was withdrawn in 2020 at the request of Angola. Luanda no longer trusted the company which has several failures to its credit.
This statement by ISS-Reshetev allays the concerns of the Angolan side. Last week, Augusto da Silva Cunha, Angola’s ambassador to Moscow, told Russian news agency Sputnik that his government hoped the satellite launch would take place by the end of the year.
According to the diplomat, putting AngoSat-2 into orbit should contribute to the development of telecommunications, industry, agriculture and other fields, as well as strengthen the country’s national security. Angola will also be able to gain independence in space technology. Currently, the country depends on private providers and compensation signals made available to it by Russia.