OREANDA-NEWS. Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced today it has successfully launched the TURKSAT-4A satellite under a turnkey contract awarded by Turksat Satellite Communication, Cable TV and Operation Inc. Co. (Turksat A.S.) in March 2011. TURKSAT-4A was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 06:09 on February 15 (Japan time) and the satellite separated from the launch vehicle at 15:22.

TURKSAT-4A will use its own power for positioning in geostationary orbit about 36,000 kilometers above the equator. Mitsubishi Electric will continue conducting in-orbit testing until the middle of March before its final handover to Turksat A.S.

In addition to TURKSAT-4A, Mitsubishi Electric will further its contribution to Turkey's communications and broadcasting infrastructure with the additional launch of TURKSAT-4B this year, as well as other satellite programs planned in the future.