SpaceX to Launch Turkmenistan’s First Satellite

Tags: Satellite Launch, SpaceX, Falcon 9, Thales Alenia Space
Publication: Forbes.com
Publication Date: 06/22/2013

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch vehicle preparing for launch. Image credit: NASA

SpaceX has been awarded a contract with Thales Alenia Space to launch Turkmenistan NSSC, Turkmenistan’s first satellite. The satellite is scheduled to launch within the next two years on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Turkmenistan NSSC will work for the country’s state run communications system. Thales Alenia Space was granted the contract to build the satellite in late 2011 using its Spacebus 4000 platform.

Initial plans called for the satellite to be delivered into geostationary orbit by a Chinese Long March rocket. With legislation for export control rules still in progress, Thales Alenia Space had to look elsewhere for a launch platform. After narrowing the finalists to the SpaceX Falcon 9 and ESA’s Ariane 5 ECA, SpaceX was selected.

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