SpaceX has successfully deployed the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite, a telecommunications satellite designed to serve regions in Africa, Central Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The satellite was launched on behalf of Space42, a company formed through the merger of Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) and an AI-powered geospatial solutions company, Bayanat.
The Thuraya 4-NGS satellite is built by Airbus and features a 12-meter antenna that operates in L-band. It provides advanced routing flexibility with dynamic power allocation over multiple spot beams. The satellite will significantly expand Space42’s product offerings with more than 15 new products when it becomes fully operational.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 first stage booster, B1073, launched the satellite for a 20th time and landed safely on the SpaceX droneship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ shortly after liftoff. The deployment was part of a four-hour launch window, during which meteorologists forecasted good launch conditions with a 95% chance of favorable weather.
The Thuraya 4-NGS satellite is designed to address connectivity issues in the region and provide L-band mobile satellite services mainly for South and East Asia and the Pacific region. However, its predecessor, Thuraya 3, suffered an unexpected payload anomaly causing service outage in April 2024, resulting in a loss of revenue for Yahsat.
SpaceX was selected by Yahsat to launch the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite in September 2021, with the satellite originally scheduled to launch in the second half of 2023. The successful deployment marks a significant milestone for Space42 and its commitment to harnessing advanced space technology to unlock innovative AI-powered services.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/01/03/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-thuraya-4-ngs-telecommunications-satellite-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-cape-canaveral