Russia To Build Second Kazakh Satellite

The Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan (file photo) (AFP)

September 25, 2006 -- Russia's state-owned Khrunichev space research center has won a tender to build Kazakhstan's second communication satellite.

At $115 million, KazSat-2 will cost twice as much as its predecessor, KazSat-1, which was launched on June 18.

Industry officials say they expect KazSat-2 to be put into orbit in 2009.

(Kazakhstan Today, Interfax-Kazakhstan)