On November 2, 2023, the deployment tests of the solar panels with high power generation capacity of Turkey's first indigenous and national communication satellite TÜRKSAT 6A were successfully completed. After this stage, launcher compatibility tests, final functional tests and payload performance tests will be carried out, and then the satellite will be ready for transportation to the launch site.
This test, which demonstrated the ability of solar panels to be switched on smoothly under space conditions, was carried out at the Space Systems Integration and Test (USET) Center at TAI with the participation of the Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, President of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal and President of the Defence Industry Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün.
The opening operation of the solar panels, which will be carried out after the satellite is launched and sent into space, was successfully rehearsed with real launchers. After this stage, which brings our National Pride TÜRKSAT 6A one step closer to its place in space, launcher compatibility tests, final functional tests and payload performance tests will be carried out, and then the satellite will be ready for transportation to the launch site.
The solar panels meet the satellite's instantaneous power needs, as well as providing energy storage in the battery for use in high-power operations when the satellite is in the shade or when instantaneous energy needs cannot be met. With this critical test, we have verified the satellite's ability to turn on the solar panels without any problems after launch by simulating space conditions.
With this test, we also confirmed that the Satellite Management Unit, Power Regulation Unit, Power Distribution Unit and software developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY worked smoothly during the solar panel opening process. Thanks to the indigenous software developed for TÜRKSAT 6A, the signal sent was converted into an ignition signal by the flight computer. Thus, we have completed the tests for the "Deployable and Steerable Solar Panel Wing", which was used for the first time in Turkey, with indigenous flight equipment.
