Space42’s Thuraya 4 (T4) telecommunications satellite was successfully launched into orbit aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 8:26 PM Eastern Time (5:26 AM UAE Time) on Sunday.
Once in space, Thuraya 4 ignited its built-in electrical thrusters for Electrical Orbit Raising (EOR). However, it will still take a few months for the satellite to reach its operational geostationary orbit at 44° East, approximately 36,000 kilometers above Earth.
The next-generation mobile telecommunications system, Thuraya 4, significantly expands Space42’s capabilities and will cement the UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company’s position as a provider of premium geospatial data, geospatial analytics AI platforms and services, non-terrestrial networks (NTN), and secure connectivity solutions.
Thuraya 4, one of the largest MSS communication satellites produced, is a critical part of the company’s plans to launch more than 15 new products to cater to the rapid growth in use cases across various sectors, including defense, government and enterprise.
Space42’s sixth geostationary (GEO) satellite will provide more security, faster speeds and expanded coverage across Africa, Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East.
Mansoor Al Mansoori, Chairman of Space42, commented: “The successful launch of Space42’s next-generation mobility satellite, Thuraya 4, is a clear testament to our commitment to push the innovation boundaries and actively participate in strengthening the UAE’s leadership in the SpaceTech sector globally. This key milestone in Space42’s journey not only propels its capabilities to reshape the future of connectivity but further advances the UAE’s ambitious National Space Strategy 2030.”
Powered by Airbus’ Eurostar Neo platform, Thuraya 4 features a 12-meter antenna operating in L-Band and a payload equipped with advanced onboard processing. These capabilities enable unparalleled routing flexibility of up to 3,200 channels with dynamic power allocation across multiple spot beams.
Karim Michel Sabbagh, Managing Director, Space42, said: “The launch of Thuraya 4 lays the foundation for our next-generation mobile satellite solutions capabilities, expanding our offering to our partners and customers and creating new avenues for innovation. The launch reinforces Space42’s leadership position in the global SatCom industry.”
Alain Fauré, Head of Space Systems at Airbus, added: “We open a new chapter in the story of Airbus and Space42. After being transported from our cleanrooms in France to its launch site in Florida onboard our own Airbus Beluga, the latest telecommunications satellite is now ready to provide increased flexibility for our customer Space42’s communications satellite fleet.
“Leveraging the state-of-the-art all-electric Airbus Eurostar Neo platform, the Thuraya 4 launch represents a major milestone and reinforces our longstanding partnership with Space42, stretching back more than 10 years.”
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