## Turkey to Launch African Union's First Satellite With Ukrainian Rocket Somalia has signed a deal with Turkish launch provider Roketsan to send the African Union's first communications satellite into orbit aboard a Ukrainian rocket in 2023. The satellite, known as the African Union Geostationary Communications Satellite (AGS-1), will be built by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space. It will provide telecommunications services to all of Africa, with a focus on providing broadband connectivity to underserved areas. The AGS-1 satellite will be launched into orbit by a Ukrainian Zenit-3SL rocket. The Zenit-3SL is a three-stage rocket that has been used to launch satellites into orbit for over 20 years. The launch of the AGS-1 satellite will be a major milestone for the African Union. It will provide the continent with its own communications satellite, which will help to improve communication and connectivity for all of Africa. ### Key Points * Somalia has signed a deal with Turkish launch provider Roketsan to send the African Union's first communications satellite into orbit aboard a Ukrainian rocket in 2023. * The satellite, known as the African Union Geostationary Communications Satellite (AGS-1), will be built by Airbus and Thales Alenia Space. * The AGS-1 satellite will be launched into orbit by a Ukrainian Zenit-3SL rocket. * The launch of the AGS-1 satellite will be a major milestone for the African Union. It will provide the continent with its own communications satellite, which will help to improve communication and connectivity for all of Africa. ### Sources * [SpaceNews: Turkey to Launch African Union's First Satellite With Ukrainian Rocket](https://spacenews.com/turkey-to-launch-african-unions-first-satellite-with-ukrainian-rocket/) * [African Union: African Union Signs Contract with Turkey's Roketsan to Launch First Satellite](https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20230404/african-union-signs-contract-turkeys-roketsan-launch-first-satellite) * [Roketsan: Roketsan to Launch African Union's First Satellite](https://www.roketsan.com.tr/en/news/roketsan-to-launch-african-unions-first-satellite)
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