Posted by meb at June 14th, 2008

Turkey’s new generation communication satellite, the Turksat 3A, was launched shortly before 1 a.m. from the Kourou base in French Guiana on Friday.

Turkey’s fifth satellite, Turksat will enable satellite and cable television operator Turksat to offer telecommunication services as well as direct TV broadcasting services over a broader area than that covered by its existing satellites, covering Turkey, Europe, Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

The launch was delayed due to software problems in May. Built by Franco-Italian consortium Thales Alenia Space, the satellite cost Turkey $200 million. It was put into orbit by Ariane-5, a European expendable launch system designed to deliver payloads into geostationary transfer orbit or low Earth orbit. Ariane-5 rocket also carried a British military satellite into orbit. (more…)