SpaceX wins Turkish launch contract
September 10, 2020
By Chris Forrester
SpaceX has been awarded a satellite launch contract for a Turkish craft, Turksat 5A.
Ali Taha Koç, head of the country’s Presidential Digital Transformation Office, said the satellite is being built by Airbus Defense and Space, among the pioneers in aerospace technology.
“With Turksat 5A, Turkey will have a coverage area that encompasses the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Africa,” he commented.
Turksat 5A is expected to have more than 30 years of life in orbit. It will carry 42 transponders and be located at a somewhat unused Turkish orbital slot at 31 degrees East.
Turkey is also building its own Turksat 6A craft for launch in 2022.
Another Airbus, Turksat 5B is under construction for launch next year.
Other posts by :
- Major banks support AST SpaceMobile
- Fitch downgrades DirecTV debt
- Some new US Starlink subs face $1,000 start-up fee
- Project Kuiper beating OneWeb
- OQ Tech gets Luxembourg 5G-by-Sat concession
- Roskosmos: Heads roll, launch project scrapped
- MDA under pressure over satellite order
- SES backs C-band action from FCC
