Turkey's first domestic communication satellite, Türksat 6A, has reached its permanent orbit.

The first domestic and national communication satellite of Turkey, Türksat 6A, has reached its orbit at 42 degrees East. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the journey of Turkey's first domestic and national communication satellite Türksat 6A to its orbit has been completed.

REACHED ITS PERMANENT ORBIT

Minister Uraloğlu stated that the journey of Turkey's first domestic and national communication satellite Türksat 6A to its orbit has been completed. Uraloğlu reported that Türksat 6A, which set off from the SpaceX launch center in Cape Canaveral on July 9 and reached its temporary orbit at 50 degrees East on July 20, has now reached its permanent orbit at 42 degrees East as of today. Emphasizing the great importance of Turkey's first domestic and national communication satellite 6A for Turkey's presence in space, Uraloğlu said, "All our citizens need to know that this satellite is not just a communication satellite. This satellite is the result of a project that will shape Turkey's future in space and increase its power in the world."

20-YEAR DREAM BECAME A REALITY

Uraloğlu highlighted that the high domestic production rate of Türksat 6A is backed by the technology transfer training program initiated by Türksat, stating, "With the program initiated by our country's satellite operator Türksat, engineers from Türksat were also involved in the construction of Türksat 3A, as well as Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B. Additionally, during the construction of Türksat 5A and 5B, Türksat engineers were also involved in satellite design, production, and testing processes under the technology transfer program. And now, with the contributions of Türksat engineers who are receiving training in space technologies under the technology transfer program, we have produced Türksat 6A with the highest domestic production rate. In fact, Türksat 6A, which was initiated with a contract signed 10 years ago, is the result of a 20-year dream that almost started with the establishment of Türksat," he said.

"6 FIRINGS WERE MADE"

Minister Uraloğlu noted that after Türksat reached its 50 degrees East orbit, most of the payload tests produced in Turkey were completed there, stating, "I would like to proudly say that Türksat 6A has successfully passed all of these tests. In this context, our satellite recently moved to its permanent orbit at 42 degrees East, ready for its 15-year mission, primarily with our equipment produced in Turkey. During its movement towards 42 degrees East, our satellite made a total of 6 firings in space, and after its last firing around 05:00 Turkish time, it successfully reached its geosynchronous orbit 35,786 kilometers away as of today," he said.

WILL ELEVATE TURKEY'S STATUS

Minister Uraloğlu stated that after the completion of the orbital tests of Türksat 6A at 42 degrees East, the final acceptance will be made, saying, "Our national pride, Türksat 6A, which is the largest R&D project of our country, will start providing services in the first quarter of 2025 after completing its test processes. We will elevate Turkey to the category of an international player in satellite and space studies." Uraloğlu also reminded that they worked with ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, TÜBİTAK UZAY, and CTECH in the construction of Türksat 6A, stating, "Every part produced locally and nationally by these companies has now gained satellite experience. This is very important. Because all these parts produced in our country have successfully served in space, the door for their export to the whole world has now been opened. Now, all countries producing communication satellites can purchase these products from us. Every part produced can now also be used for satellites with different payloads," he explained.

"TURKEY WILL REACH 5 BILLION PEOPLE"

Minister Uraloğlu recalled that Türksat continues its operations with a total of 5 communication satellites, Türksat 3A, 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B, at 31 degrees, 42 degrees, and 50 degrees East orbits, and in this context, it has reached a population of 3.5 billion worldwide. Uraloğlu also stated that with the commissioning of Türksat 6A in the first quarter of 2025, new geographies such as Southeast Asia, which were previously not covered by Türksat satellites, will be served, saying, "With the Türksat 6A satellite, the coverage area served by Türksat will expand to include India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Thus, with Türksat 6A, the population reached by Turkey's satellites will increase from 3.5 billion to over 5 billion. Turkey will be able to reach more than 65% of the world's population with its own communication satellites," he said.

TURKEY IS NOW A VOICE IN SPACE

Minister Uraloğlu pointed out the importance of the transformation experienced in Turkey over the past 20 years, stating that the world has seen Turkey's strength in the sea, land, railways, and space. Uraloğlu emphasized that Turkey continues to be a leading country in its region and a significant player in the world, and with Türksat 6A, it has risen to the status of a significant player in space.

Source: İHA