Turkiye’s first commercial earth observation satellite Connecta T2.1, completed by Plan-S, the fastest growing space technologies company in the industry, was launched into orbit as part of the Transporter 7 mission with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Sending its third satellite into space within a year, Plan-S continues its studies on satellite-based Internet of Things (IoT) communication and ground observation services.
The third satellite of Plan-S, which was established in Ankara Bilkent Cyberpark in July 2021 and is one of the fastest growing private space technology companies in Turkiye, is in orbit.
All design, development, integration and testing processes of the earth observation satellite Connecta T2.1, launched on the Transporter 7 mission with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, have been completed under Plan-S.
Earth observations will be the target of the Connecta T2.1 satellite
Developing the experience and knowledge gained from previous satellites designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices to communicate via satellites, Plan-S, will test earth observation missions with a high-resolution, multi-band ground observation camera integrated into Connecta T2.1, its third satellite on the roadmap.
Imaging, remote sensing and edge computing tests will also be carried out with the Connecta T2.1, which is twice the size of the Connecta T1.1 and T1.2 satellites previously launched into space.
Work continues on the team satellite road
Speaking about the launch of Connecta T2.1 satellite, Plan-S Chairman of the Board Sami Aslanhan;
“Our first satellite, Connecta T1.1, has so far recorded a distance of approximately 200 million kilometers around the Earth. This satellite, which enables us to gain serious experience and knowledge in satellite communication, was also able to send photos from space to our control center thanks to the miniature cameras on it. We continue to conduct communication tests of Internet of Things (IoT) devices with our second satellite Connecta T1.2. We have successfully completed both our satellite-to-ground and ground-to-satellite high-speed data transfer tests. Connecta T1.2 even sent us a “selfie” video taken from space. These are important abilities acquired in a very short time. With our third satellite, Connecta T2.1, we have taken the first big step in our studies on earth observation.”
All plans are complete until 2025
Talking about their near future goals, Plan-S CEO Tugay Guzel said in his statement.
“We completed and successfully commissioned our first satellite in 8 months and our second satellite in 5 months. Our third satellite took its place in its orbit. Now we will start the commissioning work. In the fourth quarter of 2023, we will simultaneously send our two satellites, Connecta T3.1 and Connecta T3.2, and test our “inter-satellite communication” capabilities, which we have developed as Plan-S, with these satellites. In 2024, we will have sent the first satellites of the satellite team to which we will provide IoT communication services, and will have commissioned them. We will increase the global coverage of our constellation and our service quality by sending a large number of satellites in 2025 and beyond.”
The same message was deciphered from all over the world: The future is in the skies!
The Connecta T2.1 satellite, which started to emit signals after leaving the rocket, transmitted the message “THE FUTURE IS IN THE SKIES” MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK to the whole Earth, just like the other satellites of Plan-S.
Source: Egirisim / Prepared by Irem Yildiz