Nichols Martin
Airbus‘ defense and space segment has secured a contract from Turkey-based communications satellite operator Turksat to build two new satellites slated for geostationary orbit.
Turksat 5A and Turksat 5B will be based on the electric orbit raising variant of the Airbus Eurostar E3000 satellite model powered by electric propulsion technology, Airbus said Thursday.
The first spacecraft is designed to provide Ku-band broadcast services for users across Turkey, the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Africa.
The second spacecraft is designed to offer a broadband capacity of more than 50 gigabytes per second for customers in Turkey, the Middle East and Africa through Ku- and Ka-band frequencies.
5A and 5B are scheduled for in-orbit delivery in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
Airbus noted it will manufacture both satellites at the company’s facilities in U.K. and France.
