South Korea orders Koreasat 6A
September 13, 2022
By Chris Forrester
Thales Alenia Space has won a contract to deliver Koreasat 6A for delivery in Q4/2024.
Korea Telecom’s (KT) Koreasat 6A will have 20 fixed satellite service (FSS) and six TV broadcast transponders to replace Koreasat 6, which launched to geostationary orbit at 116 degrees East in December 2010.
Thales has enjoyed a long relationship with South Korea and has supplied Koreasat 5, 5A and 7 as well as building Earth observation, navigation and other scientific satellites to the nation.
Koreasat 6A will be based on the manufacturer’s well-regarded Spacebus 4000B2 platform and is expected to weigh about 3.5 metric tons. Thales said it will be designed to operate for at least 15 years.
KT’s portfolio of orbiting satellites serves customers in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.