08 July 2022

 

 

Türksat 5B telecommunication satellite has reached orbit and is now in its orbital slot of 42 degrees east longitude, covering north, eastern and southern Africa.

The new satellite, which will also cover the entire Middle East, the Persian Gulf, the Mediterranean, as well as Turkey’s neighbouring countries, was launched
in December 2021 on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

It was launched to geostationary transfer orbit, where it reached 42 degrees East to provide high throughput Ka and Ku-band services.

“After a five-month journey launched by SpaceX on December 19th 2021 Türksat 5B reached orbit on May 17th,” said Adil Karaismailoğlu, the Turkish, transport and infrastructure minister. “Performance and orbit tests were conducted successfully. Now it is time to put the satellite in service.”

The satellite was built by Airbus Defense and Space and ordered back in 2017. Thanks to its onboard electric propulsion it has a potential life expectancy of approximately 35 years.

Another new craft will also soon join Türksat’s fleet. Türksat 6A will launch in 2023 and is being built in Turkey at the TUSAŞ facilities in the capital, Ankara.