WASHINGTON— Oman, a nation that has never owned a telecommunications satellite, ordered two geostationary-orbit spacecraft in the space of eight weeks following ostensibly separate negotiations with two manufacturers.
The Omani government in November announced a contract with Airbus Defence and Space in November. In January, Oman’s MB Group announced a contract with small-GEO manufacturer Astranis, using Astranis’s leasing arrangement wherein Astranis keeps ownership of the asset.
Oman’s contract with Airbus entered into force in January with initial payments . . .
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