Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ expertise in moving space satellites will help to bring improved broadcasting and communication services in Turkey, Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa after completing a round-trip moving the Türksat 4B satellite and its special transport container.

The airline carried the communications satellite to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan onboard an An-124 freighter flight from Japan and was also assigned to return the cargo container.

The satellite was manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric in Japan for the Turkish satellite operator Türksat AS. Its special shipping container secured the cargo and ensured the necessary environmental conditions were maintained to protect the satellite’s sensitive technology. During the flight from Japan the temperature was maintained at 10°С.

The shipment, comprising the satellite and supporting equipment, was accompanied by the manufacturer’s representatives. Although the total weight of the satellite and container was 60 tonnes, space equipment is a highly sensitive cargo requiring special care during handling due to the precision equipment onboard. The actual dry weight of the Türksat 4B satellite was only several tonnes.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines is an acknowledged expert in the global transportation of satellites and during its 25-year history has operated more than 4,500 flights for leaders in the aerospace industry.

In early 2014, Volga-Dnepr delivered the Türksat 4A satellite, also manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric for Türksat AS. It was successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 15 February last year.