Türkiye’s Turksat 6A satellite ready for launch to space

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced Sunday that Türkiye’s first domestic and national communication satellite, Turksat 6A, has completed its construction and testing phases and is now entering the packaging process.

He revealed that the Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the United States would receive the satellite on Tuesday, June 4.

Uraloglu mentioned that Turksat 6A was ready for space launch, and the final packaging processes were underway. He noted that the integration and testing of Turksat 6A were conducted at the Space Systems Integration and Testing (USET) Center in Ankara.

“We continue our services in satellite communications with Turksat 3A, Turksat 4A, Turksat 4B, Turksat 5A, and Turksat 5B. We are very close to completing one of Türkiye’s most important projects, the domestic communication satellite Turksat 6A. We plan to launch our satellite into space in July,” Uraloglu said.

Highlighting the collaboration between Turksat and local industry organizations like Tubitak Space, Aselsan, TAI, and CTECH, Uraloglu noted, “I proudly announce that we have successfully completed Türkiye’s largest R&D project, Turksat 6A. We are now at the stage of sending it into space. The packaging processes for our satellite are also nearing completion at USET. On Tuesday, June 4, Turksat 6A, will depart from Ankara to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with an Antonov An-124 aircraft. After approximately 17 hours of travel, our satellite will land at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s SpaceX facilities, where journey tests will be conducted. Additionally, fueling for Turksat 6A will also take place at SpaceX’s hangar. We plan to send it into space using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in the second week of July.”

Uraloglu emphasized that Turksat 6A’s highest domestic production rate was achieved thanks to Turksat’s technology transfer training program.

“Thanks to the program initiated by our country’s satellite operator Turksat, Turksat engineers were involved in the production of Turksat 3A, as well as Turksat 4A and 4B. In the production of Turksat 5A and 5B, 12 Turksat engineers participated in satellite design, production, and testing under the technology transfer program. Currently, with the contributions of Turksat engineers who received training in space technologies through the technology transfer program, we have produced Turksat 6A with the highest domestic production rate.”

Uraloglu highlighted that the production of Turksat 6A marks a turning point for Türkiye. “TUBITAK Space produced Turksat 6A’s satellite management sub-system, orbit orientation control sub-system, power sub-system, electric propulsion sub-system, interface control units, and communication payload as part of the project… (Türkiye) has become one of the world’s leading communication satellite producers. With the experience gained in space, Türkiye is now in a position to export both these components and a communication satellite from start to finish.”

Minister Uraloglu indicated that Turksat 6A, which will ensure the redundancy of existing satellites, will significantly increase Türkiye’s satellite capacity. He reported that the satellite, planned to be positioned at a distance of 35,786 kilometers, has a power capacity of 7.5 kilowatts.

Highlighting Turksat 6A’s role as a geostationary communication satellite serving communication needs, especially in TV broadcasting and wide coverage areas, Uraloglu emphasized that it will also cover areas that existing satellites do not serve, such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

Uraloglu stated that Turksat 6A will increase the population reached by Türkiye’s satellites from 3.5 billion to 5 billion people. With the launch of Turksat 6A, Turksat’s satellite service exports to the region are expected to significantly increase.