Thales Alenia Space announced a contract with Turkmenistan Ministry of communication for the design, manufacture and delivery of the first Turkmenistan Telecommunication Satellite. This contract, signed under the presence of Turkmenistan highest authorities, also includes the ground segment means for two Satellite Ground Control Stations, and all its associated services. Through an intensive training associated to an internship program, the Turkmenistan Satellite operator team will receive all the expertise and support from Thales Alenia Space engineers to operate safely the spacecraft.
This high performance satellite within the Spacebus 4000 family for which 16 satellites are currently in use in orbit, will enable Turkmenistan to operate its first National System of Satellite Communications in order to secure and enhance Turkmenistan communication means.
The satellite will be based on Thales Alenia Space Spacebus C2 platform. The launch is scheduled in 2014 for a 15 years lifetime. The satellite, of around 10 Kw power and above 4.5 tons’ launch mass, will carry Ku transponders covering large beams over Central Asia Region.
“This is a very important milestone for our customer Turkmenistan Ministry of Communication and for our company, and we would like to thanks all the parties involved in this project since the beginning. All the conclusive work conducted between our respective experts and engineers over the past year has always been driven by the vision set by Turkmenistan President for his country and its communication needs,” said Reynald Seznec, President and CEO of Thales Alenia Space. “Cooperation with Turkmenistan is strategically important for Thales group and this contract is further reinforcing our already existing relations”, he added.
Turkmenistan Ministry of Communication will use the 52E orbital position of the Principality of Monaco via the Monaco Satellite Operator Space Systems International – Monaco (SSI).
