In orbit for 1 year, Türkiye's Turksat 5B satellite guides work on indigenous next version

By Hulya Omur Uylas

ANKARA (AA) - A year after Türkiye expanded its communications access capacity by launching the Turksat 5B, work continues to build the satellite's indigenous next version.

The Turksat 5B, the country's highest-throughput communications satellite, was launched on Dec. 19, 2021 from the US' Cape Canaveral Space Force Station by aerospace company SpaceX after about four years of tests and development.

Built by Airbus with help from Türkiye's domestic industry, the orbiter's commissioning ceremony was held in the Turkish capital Ankara on June 14, 2022, and was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

A program for the contribution of Türkiye's domestic industry played a role in the Turksat 5B's development to help build up and support the country's satellite sector.

The experience gained is now being used to build and design its homegrown successor, the Turksat 6A.

Two pieces of communications equipment that will be on the Turksat 6A were manufactured in Türkiye and designed by the country's leading defense industry and aerospace firm Aselsan.

Tests continue for the Turksat 6A, which is among the major projects of Türkiye's national technology initiative, under which some of its subsystems, earth station, and software are being developed with domestic resources.

Once the Turksat 6A is launched into space next year, Türkiye will be one of 10 countries that can produce its own communications satellite.