In a historic moment for Turkey's space program, the electric propulsion engine of the Türksat 6A satellite was successfully ignited, marking a significant achievement in the country's national space journey. The engine, developed by the Space Technologies Research Institute (UZAY) of Turkey's top scientific council, was fired for seven minutes, demonstrating its capability to operate in geostationary orbit at an altitude of 35,786 kilometers.
Falcon 9 blasts off carrying Turkiye's First indigenously devoloped and produced satellite - TURKSAT 6A Credit: SpaceX
The HALE 1500 electric thrust engine, produced entirely with domestic and national means, is a type of Hall Effect Thruster (HALE) that is highly reliable for satellites and spacecraft. This technology is used for various maneuvers, including orbit raising, orbit keeping, phase keeping, and de-orbiting.
The successful ignition of the electric thrust engine is a crucial step in the Türksat 6A project, which aims to provide satellite TV and communications services over parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The satellite, launched last month from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, US, aboard a SpaceX ‘s Falcon 9 rocket, is Turkey's first geostationary communications satellite built through domestic means.
Credit: TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute
With this achievement, Turkey has become one of the 11 countries capable of producing satellites through their own means, demonstrating its independent technological power and the determination of its engineers. The Türksat 6A satellite is expected to increase the mission life and maneuver with less fuel, thanks to the successful use of the HALE 300 version of the electric thrust engine in the IMECE satellite.
This milestone marks a significant step forward in Turkey's space program, showcasing its capabilities in developing advanced space technologies and its commitment to exploring the vastness of space.
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