Turksat to add 5A satellite into fleet
June 4, 2020
By Chris Forrester
Turkey’s latest satellite, Turksat 5A, has been confirmed for launch in Q4 this year. It is the first of a trio of next-generation craft which will be orbited between now and 2022.
Turkey’s transportation and infrastructure minister, Adil Karaismaloğlu, visited the Turksat facility at Gölbaşı, near Ankara on June 3rd, and said that Turkey’s satellite broadcasting appeared to be an important factor in the sector by addressing Asia, Europe and African countries.
Türksat 5A will operate in Ku-band at the 31 degrees East longitude, covering Turkey, the Middle East, Europe and large regions of Africa. It will provide television services and improve broadband data networks. Türksat 5A, which was built by Türkstat and TAI in collaboration with Airbus Defense and Space (D&S) as part of a deal inked in 2011, is contracted to be launched into space by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets from the launch pad in Florida by the end of 2020.
The two follow-on satellites, Turksat 6A and 6B are domestically produced in collaboration between the ministry and organisations and companies such as defense firm ASELSAN, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and CTech along with Türksat and the country’s top scientific body the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK).
The investment value of Türksat has reached Turkish Lira 10.2 billion ($1.5 billion) while the company closed the first three months of 2020 with an operating profit of TL 101 million.