Turkey has once again demonstrated its claim in space technologies. In this context, the first domestic and national communication satellite, TÜRKSAT 6A, was taken to the USA for launch. Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that TÜRKSAT 6A is planned to be launched in the first week of July. So what will be the mission of TÜRKSAT 6A?

Turkey’s first domestic and national communication satellite TURKSAT 6A

The first domestic and national communication satellite will operate in geostationary orbit at a distance of 35,786 kilometers from the earth. Minister Kacır stated that TÜRKSAT 6A has an indigenous content of over 80 percent, making Turkey one of the 11 countries capable of producing communication satellites.

In the indigenous satellite project, stages such as design, sub-component production, integration and testing were completed indigenously. A total of 84 equipment of 24 different types, such as the satellite’s flight computers, power distribution and regulation units, star trackers, reaction wheel, electric propulsion system (EİS), were produced domestically.

The satellite also passed 396 environmental and functional tests. These included mechanical tests simulating the vibration and acoustic loads it would be exposed to during launch, thermal vacuum tests simulating the thermal conditions and vacuum environment in space, and antenna performance tests.

The orbital placement operation and commissioning of TÜRKSAT 6A will be carried out by Turkish engineers. After the launch, it will be delivered to Türksat AS and will serve for more than 15 years.

Minister Kacır stated that the domestic satellite is an important step for the strategic security of the country. “We will commercialize our R&D and production capability we have achieved so far in satellite technologies. We will create our national satellite brand for the strategic security of our country.”