# Türksat 1B

> decommissioned Turkish communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q164612](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q164612)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Türksat_1B)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/turksat-1b

## Summary  
Türksat 1B was a Turkish communications satellite launched in 1994 and decommissioned in 2006. It operated in geostationary orbit and served as part of Turkey's early satellite telecommunications infrastructure. Built by French manufacturer Aérospatiale, it was based on the Spacebus-2000 satellite bus and launched aboard an Ariane 44LP rocket.

## Key Facts  
- Launched on August 10, 1994, at 23:05:24 UTC from ELA-2 launch site  
- Manufacturer: Aérospatiale (France)  
- Satellite bus: Spacebus-2000  
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 44LP (serial V66)  
- Mass: 1775 kg (launch weight), 1078 kg (service entry)  
- Designed service life: 12 years; actual service until October 2006  
- Decommissioned into graveyard orbit in November 2006  
- Operator: Türksat (Turkey)  
- COSPAR ID: 1994-049B  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Türksat 1B used for?  
A: Türksat 1B was a communications satellite used to provide telecommunications services over Turkey and surrounding regions. It supported television broadcasting, data transmission, and voice communication during its operational lifespan.

### Q: When was Türksat 1B launched and retired?  
A: Türksat 1B was launched on August 10, 1994, and officially retired from service in October 2006. It was moved to a graveyard orbit in November 2006 after decommissioning.

### Q: Who built Türksat 1B?  
A: Türksat 1B was manufactured by Aérospatiale, a French aerospace company, using the Spacebus-2000 satellite platform.

## Why It Matters  
Türksat 1B played a foundational role in Turkey’s development of independent satellite communications capabilities. As one of the earlier satellites in the Türksat program, it enabled expanded broadcast and telecommunication coverage across Turkey and neighboring regions. Its successful deployment marked Turkey's growing participation in space-based infrastructure, supporting national media, government, and commercial sectors. Though now decommissioned, Türksat 1B contributed to the technological groundwork for future Turkish satellites and demonstrated the viability of domestically operated space assets.

## Notable For  
- Being among the first generation of Turkish communications satellites  
- Operating beyond its nominal 12-year design life by nearly three additional months  
- Using the reliable Spacebus-2000 platform developed by Aérospatiale  
- Being launched via the Ariane 44LP, a workhorse of European space launches in the 1990s  
- Serving as a key asset in expanding Turkey’s telecommunications reach in the mid-1990s  

## Body  
### Mission Overview  
Türksat 1B was part of the Türksat series, Turkey’s national fleet of communications satellites. It was designed to deliver telecommunications services including television broadcasting, internet access, and secure governmental communications.

### Technical Specifications  
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Spacebus-2000, developed by Aérospatiale  
- **Power System**: Equipped with two spacecraft solar arrays and one S400 thruster  
- **Orbit Type**: Geostationary orbit  
- **Service Life**: 12 years (design), 12.3 years (actual)  
- **Launch Weight**: 1775 kg  
- **In-Orbit Mass**: 1078 kg  

### Launch Details  
- **Date**: August 10, 1994  
- **Time**: 23:05:24 UTC  
- **Launch Site**: ELA-2, Kourou, French Guiana  
- **Vehicle**: Ariane 44LP (flight V66)  
- **Co-Passenger**: Brasilsat B1  

### Operational History  
- Entered service shortly after launch and began operations at 31.3° East longitude  
- Provided Ku-band and C-band transponder services  
- Reached end-of-life in October 2006, slightly exceeding its planned service duration  
- Safely moved to a graveyard orbit in November 2006 to prevent orbital debris hazards  

### Legacy  
Though no longer active, Türksat 1B laid the foundation for Turkey’s continued investment in satellite technology and influenced the development of later models such as Türksat 3A and 4A.

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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Türksat 1B",
  "description": "Decommissioned Turkish communications satellite launched in 1994.",
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/turksat-1.htm)
2. [Source](http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_turksat_1b.html)
3. [Source](http://www.turksat.com.tr/english/v2/satellite-fleet-and-specifications/turksat-1b-313-east)
4. Jonathan's Space Report
5. [Source](http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/prog_turksat_car_pop.html)