Turksat 3A Takes Tropical Voyage To French Guiana

Thales Alenia Space has transferred the Turksat 3A communications satellite to the launch site in Kourou, French Guiana. Turksat 3A satellite will enable Turksat to offer telecommunication services as well as direct TV broadcasting services covering Turkey, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. With the help of its switchable transponders, Turksat 3A will act as a bridge between Europe and Asia. Turksat 3A’s Turkey coverage has been specially designed to provide very efficient gain for broadband applications such as VSAT services giving customers low-cost, up-link systems. Based on Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000B2, Turksat 3A will be fitted with 24 Ku-band transponders. The satellite’s beginning of life power of will be about 8 kW. Positioned at 42° E, Turksat 3A will weight 3060 kg at launch and will replace Turksat 1C satellite—Cannes, France