Ka-band High Throughput Satellite built for KACST and operated by Taqnia Space at 39°E, delivering secure aero, maritime, GSM-backhaul and government connectivity across the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
SAUDIGEOSAT-1 (SGS-1)
Ka-band High Throughput Satellite built for KACST and operated by Taqnia Space at 39°E, delivering secure aero, maritime, GSM-backhaul and government connectivity across the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Description
SAUDIGEOSAT-1 (SGS-1) is a Ka-band High Throughput Satellite (HTS) built for the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and operated by Taqnia Space from an orbital position of 39° East. Launched in 2019, SGS-1 uses a modernized Lockheed Martin A2100 satellite bus with hybrid propulsion and a 15-year design lifetime. The satellite provides high-throughput Ka-band capacity covering the Middle East, Africa and Europe, supporting a wide range of applications including aero connectivity for commercial and government aircraft, maritime broadband connectivity, GSM backhaul for mobile network operators, and secure government communications networks. SGS-1 forms the backbone of Taqnia Space's satellite communications infrastructure, which is further extended through the company's global network of teleports and points-of-presence, and is complemented by planned additional Ka-band HTS capacity from future Saudi satellite missions.
Specifications
| Orbital Position | 39° East |
|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2019 |
| Transponders | Ka-band HTS |
| Designed Lifetime | 15 years |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Bus | A2100 (modernized) |
| Wet Mass | 6,300 kg |
| Dry Mass | 6,000 kg |
| Propulsion | Hybrid |
| Power | 21 kW |
| Coverage | Middle East, Africa, Europe |