Türkiye's Indigenous Satellite Set for June 2024 Launch

Türkiye's inaugural domestic communication satellite, Türksat 6A, has successfully completed all its testing phases and is scheduled for a launch in June 2024, thanks to an agreement with Space X to oversee the launch process, as announced by a high-ranking official on Monday.

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu expressed, "Our new satellite, Türksat 6A, will be launched in June 2024. We are determined to continue our efforts to establish a presence in space and be influential in the world at the beginning of the Century of Türkiye."

This achievement marks a significant milestone in Türkiye's satellite journey, which began with Türksat 1B and has since made substantial progress in the field. Türksat is poised to introduce its maiden domestic communication satellite, Türksat 6A, into operation, positioning the nation among the first 11 countries worldwide capable of producing communication satellites.

When completed, Türksat 6A will be stationed at 42 degrees east longitude, situated in a geostationary orbit 35,786 kilometers (22,236 miles) above Earth. This domestic and national communication satellite will possess a power capacity of 7.5 kilowatts and be equipped with 20 transponders. It will deliver services in the Ku band and extend its coverage to regions, including Southeast Asia, which prior satellites couldn't reach.

The development, integration, and testing of Türksat 6A have been undertaken through the collaborative efforts of Türksat, the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The project has successfully concluded the production, integration, and testing of thermal, structural, and engineering models. Additionally, system-level initial functional tests, thermal vacuum assessments, and vibration, acoustic, and electromagnetic compatibility tests have been carried out, marking a significant achievement in Türkiye's space endeavors.