Buenos Aries, February 12 (RHC) -– Argentina is finishing preparations for the launching of its ArSat-1 communications satellite in May 2014, the Argentine Ministry of Federal Planning confirmed.

According to officials, the satellite Arsat-1′s flight model vibrating trials have ended with good results and that the environmental tests will continue, in order to guarantee its quality and successful operation. This will be the first telecommunications satellite entirely developed in Argentina.

The Arsat-1 project will allow the country to achieve a complete satellite mission, which includes putting it into orbit. The satellite will be used to provide telephony, Internet and TV services throughout the Argentine territory, including the national bases in the Antarctica and those remote areas that private operators have not reached.

According to the original plan, the Arsat-1 will be ready by mid-May to be transported to Kourou, French Guyana, from where it will be launched in an Ariane-5 rocket and placed into orbit (72° West) during the first days of July. The Arsat-1 launch is the first in a series of three, which will be launched between 2014 and 2016.