Türkiye’s first domestically produced communications satellite tv for pc, Türksat 6A, has accomplished its first 12 months in orbit, demonstrating the nation’s rising capability in area know-how, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated on Tuesday.
Launched on July 9, 2024, Türksat 6A has turn out to be “a symbol of Türkiye’s commitment to engineering, science and technological production,” Uraloğlu stated.
Work on the satellite tv for pc spanned round a decade earlier than its deployment. “The Turksat 6A project will offer Türkiye new opportunities in many areas, such as communications, the defense industry, scientific discoveries and global data infrastructure. During the year that our satellite has been in space, we made significant contributions to human resources development and acquired national satellite experience,” he added.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), he stated the satellite tv for pc has boosted employment within the area trade, noting that work on the venture started with the institution of the Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TAI) Space Systems Assembly, Integration and Test Center.
Uraloğlu shared that greater than 80% of the satellite tv for pc’s parts are domestically manufactured. “The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBITAK) developed the space satellite management unit, reaction wheel, and electronic propulsion subsystem,” Uraloğlu stated.
He added that Turkish protection trade big Aselsan equipped the system’s receiver, antenna, Inertial Network and Electronics Terminal (INET) and payload interface unit. CTech, an Istanbul-based subsidiary of TAI since 2018, supplied the telemetry transponder, telecommand receiver and antenna system check adapters, whereas TAI contributed the battery panel and cabling programs.
Türksat 6A was shipped to SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral facility in Florida for its scheduled launch on July 9, 2024. After six propulsion maneuvers, it reached its designated mission orbit at 42 levels East on Dec. 28, 2024.
“The first test broadcast from the satellite was conducted on Feb. 17, 2025, so it has been verified,” Uraloğlu stated. “The satellite was officially put into service on April 21, 2025, at a ceremony attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and it will contribute to our country’s space and communications capacity with a wide coverage area.”
He emphasised that Türksat 6A is designed for a lifespan of over 15 years, rising Türkiye’s constellation of communications satellites to 6. “The satellite will provide television broadcasting and emergency communications to a wider area,” he stated.
Highlighting the achievement, he stated that with the event of Turksat 6A and that Türkiye now stands among the many 11 international locations able to producing communications satellites.
Uraloğlu famous that an export settlement was signed on the CABSAT 2025 convention in Dubai between Turksat and a Dubai-based agency to offer companies through Türksat 6A to Western and South Asian international locations.
“Countries like India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia have been included in the service coverage area via this export agreement. This is the first time Türksat satellites provided access to these regions, marking a key milestone in the integration of a domestically developed satellite into the international market,” he stated. “Türksat can now reach 65% of the world’s population, or 5 billion people, via its satellite fleet.”
Preparations underway for Türksat 7A
Uraloğlu additionally confirmed that planning for Türkiye’s next-generation satellite tv for pc, Türksat 7A, is already underway. Construction started following a brand new protocol signed on June 19 between the nation’s sole satellite tv for pc operator and the Presidency of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Research Center, which is affiliated with the Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry.
“The Türksat 7A project was launched as Türksat 3A nears the end of its life,” he said. “Türksat 7A might be geared up with larger knowledge capability, a wider protection space, and a ‘flexible’ payload know-how, permitting it to dynamically handle assets and supply versatile companies throughout areas.”
The deployment of Turksat 7A is deliberate for 2029, he added.
Source: www.dailysabah.com