SpaceX launched the first Turkish communications satellite of its own production into geostationary orbit on July 8. Turksat 6A, which will be operated by state-owned satellite operator Turksat, was launched from the Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 19:30 with a Falcon 9 rocket.

The satellite will separate from the rocket after approximately 35 minutes in geostationary transition orbit and reach its operational location at 42 degrees east longitude using onboard electric propulsion.

The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket successfully landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean for reuse after supporting the 15th mission, marking the 328th successful return of a SpaceX orbital-class rocket.

Turkey’s first exit

The Turksat 6A satellite is equipped with Ku- and X-band transponders to provide satellite television and communications services in Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia, including four countries (India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia) that are not currently covered by Turksat.

Work on the 4,250-kilogram spacecraft began about a decade ago and involved the participation of numerous local industry groups, including the TÜBİTAK Space Technology Research Institute.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the first signal from Türksat 6A was received from Post X shortly after launch. In his post on X, translated by Google, he said the satellite was “a symbol of our independence in space.”

There are five other satellites in Turksat’s fixed fleet: Thales Alenia Space’s Turksat 3A, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation’s (MELCO) Turksat 4A and 4B, and Airbus’ Turksat 5A and 5B.