Turksat 6A Successfully Launched into Space
Turkey’s Türksat 6A Satellite Successfully Launched into Space
In a historic moment for Turkey’s space industry, the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, along with other key officials, attended a ceremony at Cape Canaveral Space Forces Station in Florida for the launch of Türksat 6A. This marks the first domestic and national satellite developed by Turkish engineers, and it was sent into space from Launch Complex 40 with a Falcon 9 rocket belonging to Space X at 02:30 Turkish time.
The launch operation faced several delays due to adverse weather conditions, but ultimately Türksat 6A successfully separated from the rocket approximately half an hour after launch. The satellite is expected to operate in its orbit at 42 degrees east longitude, expanding the coverage area provided by Türksat to include countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
With 20 Ku Band transmitters, 8.4 kilowatt power, and a weight of 4,229 kilograms, Türksat 6A will be located 35,786 kilometers away from Earth. Once operational, Turkey’s ability to reach a global audience will significantly increase, with the country’s satellites now capable of reaching over 5 billion people worldwide.
Türksat 6A was proudly produced by Turkish engineers with a local content rate exceeding 80 percent. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and Türksat spearheaded the project, with TÜBİTAK SPACE as the project manager, and ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, and CTECH as the project implementing institutions.
This successful launch of Türksat 6A showcases Turkey’s growing presence in the space industry and marks a significant milestone in the country’s ambitious space exploration endeavors.
