Next-Generation Satellite Thuraya 4-NGS Launched by Falcon 9

On January 4, 2025, at 1:27 am UTC, a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket successfully launched the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

This was the 20th mission for the booster B1073 which previously launched the HAKUTO-R mission 1, the first Bandwagon rideshare mission, and CRS-27.

The satellite had been shipped from Toulouse-Blagnac Airport on Saturday, November 23rd, and arrived at its destination onboard an Airbus BelugaST (A300-600ST) on November 25th. This launch represents a significant advancement in satellite communications for the UAE-based company in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and Central Asia.

The Mission

Thuraya 4-NGS is a communications satellite developed by Airbus Defence and Space for Yahsat, a satellite operator based in the United Arab Emirates.  The satellite has been built on the Airbus Eurostar-Neo bus, an advanced platform offering huge upgrades over the previous Eurostar E3000 series, focusing on increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Thuraya 4 NGS consists of a 12-meter L-band antenna and a payload capable of handling up to 3,200 communication channels. The satellite will operate in  geostationary orbit and is designed to support a wide range of applications:

• Secure communications for governments and maritime services;
• Strengthen voice, video, and data transmission via satellite mobile networks;
• Supports government and commercial sectors across EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) and APAC (Asia-Pacific);

“Thuraya 4-NGS represents a significant evolution of our L-band capabilities, enabling a wider range of interoperable FSS/MSS solutions for Thuraya and YGS customers. This will be critical in delivering superior defense solutions, such as battlefield communications, to our government users, while offering a complete MSS portfolio to our current and future customers and partners to drive the next phase of innovation and growth.”
— Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Thuraya

The Company

Yahsat, officially known as Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (which merged with Bayanat to form Space42), is a satellite operator headquartered in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Owned by Mubadala Investment Company, it operates a wide satellite fleet that provides broadband, broadcasting, and secure government communications across over 150 countries.

With an investment of AED 2 billion in the Thuraya 4-NGS satellite, Yahsat is reinforcing its leadership in Mobile Satellite Solutions (MSS). Yahsat’s efforts align with the UAE’s vision to become a global leader in space technology and digital infrastructure.

In 2020, Yahsat chose Airbus to manufacture the Thuraya 4 satellite, which became part of Space42 following a strategic merger with Bayanat, an AI-driven geospatial analytics provider. The new company controls two business units: Yahsat Space Services and Bayanat Smart Solutions. The former leads upstream satellite operations, while the latter focuses on downstream geospatial data and intelligence.

^{*Cover image credits: SpaceX}