First Domestic Communication Satellite Ready To Be Sent Into Space

Türksat General Manager Hasan Hüseyin Ertok stated that the flight model and antenna tests of Türksat 6A, Turkey’s first domestic and national communication satellite, have been completed and that the satellite will be packaged and sent to the launch center after the tests related to the general structure of the system.

Ertok answered the questions of the AA correspondent during his arrival to participate in Satellite 2024, the world’s largest satellite exhibition held in the US capital Washington.

“After a few small tests, it will be sent to the launch center”

Referring to the final stage of the work on Turkey’s first domestic and national communication satellite Türksat 6A, which is planned to be sent into space at the end of June, Ertok said,

We can say that the work has now come to an end. The most important flight model tests and antenna tests have been completed in recent weeks. Now, a few minor tests will be carried out on the overall structure of the system, and then the satellite will be packaged and sent to the launch center.

“Hundreds of engineers worked on it for 10 years”

Hasan Hüseyin Ertok stated that the satellite is targeted to be launched by the end of June, and that there may be shifts in the date as the end approaches.

Stating that hundreds of engineers have been working on Turksat 6A for about 10 years and that the launch of the satellite is eagerly awaited, Ertok noted that the satellite will be sent into space by the Falcon 9 rocket of Space X from Cape Canaveral Base in the US state of Florida.

“A major milestone in the satellite ecosystem in Turkey”

Türksat General Manager Hasan Hüseyin Ertok drew attention to the importance of Türksat 6A and said:

The biggest importance of Turksat 6A is that it is the largest domestically produced satellite our country has ever built. Many equipment, software systems and ground systems on it were developed domestically. The most important aspect of Turksat 6A is that it is a major milestone in Turkey’s space ecosystem and satellite ecosystem.

Stating that Turksat 6A will be placed in a geostationary orbit at 42 degrees east longitude, Ertok said that it is planned to transfer some of the customers on the Türksat 3A satellite, which has reached the end of its lifespan in this orbit, to Turksat 6A.

Pointing out that with the launch of Turksat 6A, the region up to India and Indonesia will be included in the coverage area, Ertok said, “Thus, we will further expand our coverage area.”