Mission type | Communication |
---|---|
Operator | Türksat |
COSPAR ID | 2015-060A |
SATCAT no. | 40984 |
Mission duration | 15 years |
Spacecraft properties | |
Bus | MELCO DS2000 [1] |
Manufacturer | MELCO [1] |
Launch mass | 4,924 kg (10,856 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | October 16, 2015, 20:40:00 | UTC
Rocket | Proton-M/ Breeze-M |
Launch site | Baikonur Cosmodrome Pad 39, Kazakhstan |
Contractor | ILS |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric |
Regime | Geostationary |
Longitude | 50° East |
Türksat 4B is a Turkish communications satellite, operated by Türksat.
According to the in-orbit delivery contract signed in early 2011, Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO) of Japan was in charge of the construction of the satellite's base MELCO DS2000, [1] and the American-Russian joint-venture company International Launch Services (ILS) provided the launch of the spacecraft atop a Russian Proton-M space launch vehicle from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan scheduled in late 2014. In the scope of the contract, Turkish engineers collaborated in the production of the satellite. [2] [3] [4] [5] The production of Türksat 4B at the Mitsubishi Electric Facility in Kamakura was completed in June 2014. [6]
Türksat 4B is part of the Turksat series of satellites, and is placed in geosynchronous orbit at 50°E to provide telecommunication and direct TV broadcasting services over a wide geographic region between west of China and east of England spanning Turkey, as well as Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. [3] [4] [7]
Türksat 4B has a mass of approximately 4,924 kg (10,856 lb) and an expected on-orbit life time of 15 years. [4] [8] [9]
Türksat 4A and Türksat 4B are projected to enable a capacity increase because the satellites currently in service, namely Türksat 2A and Türksat 3A, are at 90% occupied. [3] [10]
The Turkish Armed Forces has dedicated channels on the Turksat 4B for use in guidance of it SATCOM equipped Anka-S UCAV systems. [11] [12]
The spacecraft was launched by the American-Russian joint-venture company International Launch Services (ILS) atop a Russian Proton-M space launch vehicle on October 16, 2015, at 20:40:00 from Baikonur Cosmodrome Pad 39 in Kazakhstan. [13] [9]
After successfully completing the testing process, the satellite was placed on its final orbit on October 24, 2015. [14]
Türksat 4B provides expansion of Ka band's 3- Gbps data transfer capacity at spot coverage areas through its 1,800 MHz bandwidth in total. A total of 792 MHz communication capacity is secured by 18 transponders of the Ku band. [14]