Page 70 - SAMENA Trends - June-August 2021

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Turkey’s Türksat 5A Communication Satellite Comes into Service

Turkey’s Türksat 5A communication satellite which was launched
into space in January will begin serving the world as of 28 June
2021, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu
said. The Minister informed Anadolu Agency (AA) that a ceremony
will be held to mark the communication satellite coming into
service at Türksat’s Gölbaşı compound in the capital Ankara on
June 28 with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Tests have been carried out on the Türksat 5A, which reached
geosynchronous orbit in space as of May 4, Karaismailoğlu said,
adding that orbital tests began on May 5 and were "successfully
completed." He added that once the communication satellite is
operational, it will cover Turkey, Europe, the Middle East, Northern transportation. Karaismailoğlu said the Türksat 5A will propel
and Southern Africa as well as the Mediterranean, Aegean and Turkey to the league of the leading countries using Ku-Band
Black Seas. Karaismailoğlu went on to say that the production, in data communication services with television broadcasting,
integration, testing and launch processes of new and domestic stating that the satellite's electric propulsion system will provide
communication satellites were also accelerated in the period as TV broadcasting and communication services for more than
Turkey increased its work in the field of space studies and satellite 30 years. Karaismailoğlu added that Turkey's communication
technologies. Emphasizing that Turkey is on track to becoming satellite traffic will increase from this point onward. Turkey signed
an international player in the field of satellite and space studies, an agreement with the global aerospace company Airbus in 2017
Karaismailoğlu said that they are constantly updating strategic for the production of the Türksat 5A and 5B orbiters. Türksat 5A
communication systems in terms of broadcasting and internet was built in collaboration between Türksat, Turkish Aerospace
access services, noting that they provide necessary innovations Industries (TAI) and Airbus Defense and Space. The country
to citizens simultaneously around the world. He underlined is also working on building its own Türksat 6A. Production is
that they want to be a leader in the region and recognized as a ongoing and the project is being completely domestically sourced.
country with high brand value in the world through television It is a product of the collaboration between the Transportation
and radio broadcasting via satellites, internet access and and Infrastructure Ministry and organizations and companies
other value-added satellite services. The minister explained such as leading defense firm Aselsan, TAI and CTech, along with
that the country's power and effectiveness in space through Türksat and the country’s top scientific body, the Scientific and
satellite communication are as vital as land, air, railway and sea Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBITAK).

Thales Alenia Space to Provide the Optical Inter Satellite Links for Telesat’s

Lightspeed LEO 298-Satellite Constellation

As prime contractor for the construction of The initial Lightspeed space segment will technology for communications photonics
Telesat’s Lightspeed constellation, Thales be comprised of 298 satellites. Telesat’s and mechatronics subsystems as well as
Alenia Space, a joint venture between constellation satellites will deliver multiple on 1550 nm Commercial Off-The-Shelf
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) (67%) and terabits per second across the globe for solutions. Complexity has been reduced to
Leonardo (Milan stock exchange: LDO) secure, low-latency, high-performing the minimum required to meet performance
(33%), is announcing today that the Optical broadband professional services. The objectives, to optimize the price point of
Inter Satellite Links (OISL) on-board the Optel-C product builds on more than 20 the product, and to achieve unit production
Lightspeed satellites will be its advanced years’ experience from Thales Alenia Space throughput. The product provides a flexible
Optel-C product. Optical Inter Satellite in Switzerland in optical communications accommodation and easy integration,
Links will allow Lightspeed to provide and space optoelectronics instruments thus accelerating the satellite assembly
global, mesh coverage around the world, covering engineering, design analysis and time, a key consideration for large scale
including above the oceans and poles, assembly integration & tests for opto- constellations. The industrial challenge of
with a high level of security for end-to-end mechanics, electronics and photonics. such a high volume and high throughput
services. Their use will optimize the ground The product consortium involves production will benefit from the broad
segment with a lower number of gateway several partners in Italy, France, Canada, experience and proven capabilities
sites, more freedom on gateway locations, Switzerland and UK. Optel-C is optimized of Thales in similar types of volume
and the ability to deploy gateways for constellations, robust by design and manufacturing in the defence domain and
incrementally as system loading increases. based on proven terrestrial/submarine will be implemented in its Glasgow plant.

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