Turkey’s satellite broadcasting adventure, which started with Türksat 1B, which was sent into space 29 years ago, will be brought to the top with Türksat 6A, the first domestic and national satellite that is targeted to be launched next year.
It has been 29 years since Türksat 1B was launched into space.
The production and tests of Türksat 1B, an artificial communication satellite operated by Türksat AŞ, were carried out by the French company Alcatel Alenia Space Industries.
Türksat 1B, the first communication satellite of Turkey to be successfully sent into space, was launched on 11 August 1994 from French Guiana in South America with an Ariane 4 rocket and was placed in a 42 degree east orbit.
The 3 thousand 60 kilogram satellite covered the regions of Türkiye, Europe and Central Asia. The television broadcasting and data communication services of Türksat 1B, which has a capacity of 10 narrowband 36 MHz, 16 Ku and 6 wideband 72 MHz transponders, ended in 2006.
Türksat 1B, Turkey’s first successfully launched and orbited satellite, retired after 12 years of service. The satellite was sent to the space dump in accordance with the standards set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Eyes on Türksat 6A
After Türksat 1B, Türksat 1C communication satellite started service in 1996. This satellite provided service from the 42 degrees east position. With the arrival of the Türksat 3A satellite to this location, the mission of the satellite in question ended.
Important steps were taken one after another for Turkey’s presence in space. Türksat 3A was followed by Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B.
Finally, Türksat 5A was launched on 8 January 2021, and Türksat 5B was launched on 19 December 2021.
With the commissioning of Türksat 5A and 5B satellites, Turkey has started to take its place among the countries that have a voice in the world with image, voice and data communication as well as other value-added services.
Türksat 6A, the first domestic and national communication satellite, is also aimed to be sent to space in 2024. With Türksat 6A, Turkey will be among the 10 countries in the world that can produce communication satellites.
