Turksat 4B communication satellite was successfully launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome located in Kazakhstan on October 16th at 11:40 PM local time in Turkey.
Among the attendees who participated in the launch ceremony in Baikonur was Turksat’s General Manager, Prof. Dr. Ensar Gül, Vice President Dr. Şenol Gülgönül, and many other bureaucrats.
During the launch ceremony of Turksat 4B, the satellite could be seen for 15 seconds with the naked eye, where after 5 minutes and 47 seconds the satellite left earth’s atmosphere.
Immediately after the launch Prof. Dr. Gül spoke of the satellite’s successful launch by saying:
‘’The first, second and third stages of the 4 staged rocket have been successfully carried out. During the fourth stage the rocket takes the satellite to space, a process that will take about 9 hours and 13 minutes. Later the satellite will settle in its service orbital location using its own propulsion system.’’
The First Signal from the Satellite Has Been Received
9 hours and 13 minutes after the launch, the first signal was received from Turksat 4B communication satellite from a ground station located in Fucino, Italy.
Prof. Dr. Ensar Gül indicated that receiving the first signal from Turksat 4B meant that the launch was successful, he said “After the departure, the satellite started to rotate around the earth, 6 days later the satellite will settle into to its 50 degree East longitude service orbital location.”
A Press Conference for the Launch was held in Ankara
Before the launch of Turksat 4B communication satellite, a press conference was held at Turksat’s headquarters located in Gölbaşı, Ankara.
The Ministry of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communication’s Minister Mr. Feridun Bilgin along with other bureaucrat representatives from the ministry, guests and Turksat personnel were in attendance.
During the press conference Mr. Bilgin reminded everyone that the Turksat 4B satellite was jointly manufactured with the Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, he said “With the launch of our satellite to the 50 degree East service orbital location, that we have the reserved right to use, we will operate our first satellite at this orbital location.”
Mr. Bilgin stated that with Turksat 4B, the live broadcasting transitions and data communications on the Ku-band along with the Ka-Band’s data and faster internet services, will also be provided. He said:
“The C-Band will be used for the first time with the Turksat 4B satellite. With this frequency band we will enter the African continent’s coverage area. With the use of Ka-Band, internet will be provided to areas of Turkey where internet cannot be provided through territorial infrastructures, also faster and cheaper internet access will be provided through the satellite according to the needs of European, Asian, African, Middle Eastern and neighboring Turkish countries. A total of 3 Gb a second increase in data communication capacity will be provided.”
Turksat 4B will be Fully Operable in December 2015
Mr. Bilgin underlined the fact that satellite communication services have both a social and a cultural aspect to it too, he added:
“With the expansion of our coverage area the Turkish language will also spread. Our relations with surrounding Turkish countries who speak Turkish will advance and we will also expand our broadcasting areas geographically. The demand for our products and brands will increase. There will be an increase in relations with neighboring countries’ citizens in such fields regarding culture, science, and art, and all these advances will affect the economic field too. At the same time our new satellite will be used for military communication needs as well.”
The Minister, Mr. Bilgin stated that the 50 degree East location registered under Turkey by the World Telecommunication Union, will end a continuous period of about 20 years of satellite leasing procedures with the operational start of Turksat 4B, he went on to say:
“In this orbital location, the rights to it will be transferred to us for the first time with our new satellite. With the start of our new satellite’s operation, the data and live broadcast capacity at 42 degrees will transfer to Turksat 4B at 50 degrees. This way, it will provide and increase in capacity for solely TV broadcasts and at the same time will provide a new Turkish and Asian based data and TV broadcasting market. After the launch and with the settling into the orbital location, our new satellite will complete its orbital tests, and will hopefully provide service in December. With a stronger signal quality in comparison to Turkey’s other operating satellites; it hosts 27 transponders, Turksat 4B’s operating lifespan will be about 30 years.”
Mr. Bilgin stated that Turkish engineers took part in the manufacturing of Turksat 4A and Turksat 4B communication satellites and will take part in the integration and test stages of our new satellites as well, he continued by saying:
“The engineers who participated in the manufacturing process of Turksat 4A and Turksat 4B will also take part in manufacturing of the first domestic communication satellite, Turksat 6A, at the Space Systems Integration and Test Centre (USET). With the specifications for Turksat 5A’s set to be completed this month, containing more domestic components it will go out to tender in the forthcoming period. We planned our goals for the Turkish satellite and space technologies field according to the 100th year anniversary of the Turkish Republic, in the year 2023. We are planning for Turksat, the region’s leading company, to become a global satellite operator and to provide its services worldwide. In the field where space and communication meets we are progressing rapidly on the path of communication, broadcasting and information where there is a rise in value, with our new satellites. I hope that our new satellite, Turksat 4B will bring good fortune and luck to our country.”
During the Press Conference a Live TV Broadcast with Prime Minister Davutoğlu Took Place
At the press conference held at Turksat’s headquarter in Gölbaşı, a live connection was established between Prime Minister Davutoglu right after the launch of Turksat 4B. During the launch of Turksat 4B, Prime Minister Davutoğlu was on a live TV show on TRT News and expressed his thoughts ‘This is an important development showing Turkey’s vision’ through a live TV broadcast.
Prime Minister Davutoğlu stated during the live TV broadcast that the news of Turksat 4B satellite’s successful launch into space was a nice surprise for him and continued by saying:
“This is great news, a great development. We will gain a lot from this. Strategic wise, we are showing our power and saying ‘we are part’ of the space race too. Also our new satellite will fill an utmost important slot in our orbital location. I would like to once again thank all the engineers and scientists for their contribution.”