UAE-Based Space42 Successfully Launches Thuraya 4 Satellite into Orbit
Space42 (ADX: SPACE42), a leading UAE-based AI-powered SpaceTech company, has achieved a major milestone with the successful launch of its Thuraya 4 (T4) telecommunications satellite. This marks a significant step in the company’s mission to deliver cutting-edge geospatial data, AI-powered analytics, and secure non-terrestrial network (NTN) solutions.
The satellite was launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, at 20:23 Eastern Time. Following deployment, Thuraya 4 activated its electrical thrusters for a months-long Electrical Orbit Raising (EOR) process, aiming to reach its operational geostationary orbit at 44° East, 36,000 kilometers above Earth.
Equipped with the state-of-the-art Airbus Eurostar Neo platform, Thuraya 4 boasts a 12-meter antenna and advanced onboard processing for dynamic power allocation and flexible routing of up to 3,200 channels. This next-generation satellite enhances Space42’s mobile telecommunications capabilities, offering expanded coverage, faster speeds, and enhanced security across Africa, Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Space42 Managing Director Karim Michel Sabbagh highlighted the milestone as a foundation for the company’s next-generation solutions, strengthening its position in the global satellite communications industry. Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Yahsat Space Services, emphasized that Thuraya 4 continues Space42’s legacy of innovation and reinforces its strategic aim of becoming a leader in emerging business segments like IoT and direct-to-device connectivity.
The launch also underscores Space42’s enduring partnership with Airbus and aligns with the UAE’s National Space Strategy 2030, reinforcing the country’s leadership in the global SpaceTech industry.