TAMPA, Fla. — SpaceX launched the Thuraya-4 voice and data connectivity satellite Jan. 3 for Space42, the United Arab Emirates’ recently formed AI-powered space technology champion.
The first Falcon 9 mission of 2025 placed the satellite in a geostationary transfer orbit, shortly lifting off at 8:27 p.m. Eastern from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.
Based on the Airbus Eurostar Neo Platform, the all-electric Thuraya-4 is equipped with a 12-meter L-band antenna to provide narrowband connectivity for mobile devices across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.
Yahsat, the UAE-based satellite operator merger that merged with local artificial intelligence provider Bayanat in October to form Space42, ordered Thuraya-4 in 2020 to succeed two aging Boeing-built spacecraft in geostationary orbit (GEO).
The contract included an option for a second satellite that would replace mobile satellite services over Asia, but this option has not been exercised.
Thuraya-4 was initially slated to launch in 2023, before Airbus ran into schedule and cost issues in its space business. Until recently, the satellite was also lined up for a launch in December, in a year SpaceX had hoped to perform a total 148 missions to orbit.
SpaceX ultimately closed out 2024 with 134 Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches, up from 96 in 2023 and more than the rest of the world combined.
Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer at SpaceX, recently said the company is targeting 175-180 launches in 2025.
Ali Al Hashemi, CEO of Space42’s Yahsat Space Services division, said in a statement that Thuraya-4 will help the company “unlock innovative AI-powered services for our global client base,” but did not elaborate.
In an October interview, Space42 managing director Karim Sabbagh said the company is initially focusing on developing hybrid connectivity and geospatial services for emerging markets such as autonomous vehicles.
Space42 also provides broadband and TV broadcast services from three separate satellites in GEO. Airbus is building two more satellites for Space42 to expand these services, Al Yah-4 and Al Yah-5, which SpaceX is due to launch in 2027 and 2028, respectively.
Space42 has also ordered two low Earth orbit spacecraft from Airbus, part of a future multi-orbit strategy that the company has shared little about so far.