In September the Turksat 4A satellite was put through its system validation test (SVT). This is the last ground test before the satellite is launched, penciled in for early 2014.

To carry out this test a link was set up between the satellite, located in Tuskuba (Japan) and the mission control center in Ankara (Turkey). This test allowed controllers to send orders to the satellite and receive data, exactly as they will once the satellite is in orbit, all with GMV’s expert support both in Japan and in Turkey. MELCO (Mitsubishi Electric) is priming this contract for the Turkish satellite operator, Turksat, providing both satellites 4A and 4B. GMV, under a contract with MELCO, has taken on full responsibility for providing the control center of both satellites, including on-site deployment, plus integration and testing activities and training up of Turksat engineers and operators in the supplied system.

The contract includes supply of all the following: hifly®, GMV’s commercial satellite control product, for real time monitoring and control of both satellites; smart power for managing power use; and the flight dynamics system focusGEO for orbital calculation of the new satellites and the other two currently in flight, installed in the Turkish operator’s Ankara control center.