Latest satellite delivered in Airbus’ BelugaST
December 10, 2024
A ‘whale of a good delivery service’: Space42’s Airbus-built Thuraya 4 telecommunications satellite has been successfully delivered to Florida’s Kennedy Space Centre ahead of its December launch. The satellite will be propelled into orbit by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Ferried from Toulouse in the belly of an Airbus BelugaST, the satellite’s journey took two days, with the aircraft making stops in the Azores and Nova Scotia before touching down in the US. The French OEM is no stranger to delivering satellites in this way, having already shipped an Airbus-built EUTELSAT 36D satellite in March of this year, and building on a variety of previous shipments.
“We are delighted that the Thuraya 4 satellite has reached its final destination before launch,” commented CEO of Yashat Space Services, Space42, Ali Al Hashemi. “Thuraya 4 is at the core of our next-generation mobility solutions plans and demonstrates our commitment to harnessing advanced SpaceTech to unlock innovative AI-powered services for our global client base”.
Described by its manufacturer as one of the largest MSS communications satellites produced, “Thuuraya 4 will enable Space42 to cover a greater spectrum and support customers across industries including defence, government and enterprise,” concluded Space42.
