Not to be left in the dust, stepping up to the competition, Turkey has announced their plans to have 10 satellites ready for launch in 2023.
Turkey will complete the bidding process for Türksat 5A and 5B satellites within a few months. Turkey is taking steps to become one of the world's top-10 countries in satellite operations, with 10 satellites slated for completion by 2023.
Transportation, Maritime and Communication Minister Ahmet Arslan said Türksat is one of the world's top 20 satellite operators and their goal is to become one of the world's top-10 countries with 10 satellites by 2023. Turkey's first indigenous satellite Türksat 6A, manufactured in the Turkish Space Systems Integration and Test Center (USET), is slated for completion by 2019 and will be launched into space sooner after, according to Arslan.
Stressing that the Türksat 6A satellite, which will serve as a model for large-scale technology projects, is crucial because of its indigenous manufacturers and resources. Arslan said that manufacturing operations for the 5A and 5B satellites will be conducted in the best way possible and the training of technical personnel is already going well.
"We aim to sign agreements regarding the Türksat 5A and 5B satellites in the last quarter of this year and begin operating after project logistics are completed by the end of the year," the minister said. Noting that the bidding processes of the satellites are going smoothly, Arslan added that they have received offers from the world's best companies operating in the sector and that the results of these bids will be announced in a few months.
Pointing out that they want to avoid problems related to the aging satellites already in space, Arslan said the sector has made huge strides and will launch the satellites in parallel with the increasing need for cutting-edge aeronautic innovation. Stating that their goal is to launch Türksat 5A in late 2018 and Türksat 5B in 2019, Arslan said Türksat 5A will provide television broadcasting and data communication services related to Turkey, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
From Daily Sabah