Türksat 6A: Turkey’s National Communication SatelliteTürksat 6A is one of Turkey’s national and strategic steps in the field of space technologies and was successfully launched into orbit in 2024 through collaboration with SpaceX. Built upon the experience gained from TÜBİTAK UZAY, RASAT, and GÖKTÜRK-2 projects, this initiative was realized with the contributions of leading domestic companies such as TUSAŞ, ASELSAN, and CTech, aiming to develop Turkey’s own national communication satellite.
General Information About the Project
- Project start date: December 15, 2014
- Total project duration: 60 months (5 years)
- Launch year: 2024
- Launch partner: SpaceX
- Satellite owner and operator: Türksat A.Ş.
- Funding institutions: TÜBİTAK and Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure
- Assembly, integration, and test center: TUSAŞ Space Systems Integration and Test Center
- Orbit: 42° East, geostationary
- Satellite mass: More than 4 tons
Technical Specifications of Türksat 6A
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Orbit Position | 42° East, geostationary orbit |
| Satellite Mass | > 4 tons |
| Frequency Bands | Ku-Band, Ku-BSS Band, Ka-Band, Q/V Band |
| Communication Channels | Supports uplink and downlink |
| Assembly & Test Center | TUSAŞ Space Systems Integration and Test Center |
| Operating Institution | Türksat A.Ş. |
Advantages Provided by Türksat 6A
- Increase in national capacity: Provides Turkey with a secure and domestic data communication infrastructure.
- Wide frequency support: Offers high-capacity communication capabilities in Ku, Ku-BSS, Ka, and Q/V bands.
- Critical communication advantages: Holds strategic importance for critical communication infrastructure in defense, public, and commercial sectors.
- Domestic technologies: Reduces external dependency through the nationally developed platform by TUSAŞ, ASELSAN, and CTech.
- Long lifespan and durability: Capable of long-term missions in geostationary orbit.
User Countries and Regional Coverage Area
Positioned at 42° East orbit, Türksat 6A provides secure communication services not only to Turkey but also across a wide geographical area. The countries using or covered by this satellite include:
- Turkey (primary user and operator)
- Middle Eastern countries
- North African countries
- The Balkans
- The Caucasus
- Some regions of Eastern Europe
Thanks to this extensive coverage area, Türksat 6A plays a strategic role in regional cooperation, broadcasting, and critical communication needs.
