Türkiye sends self-developed satellite into space: ‘This is the future’ – Turkish media

Turkey’s first communications satellite was launched this week. Turksat 6A It is the result of ten years of intensive work.

A Turkish satellite flew into space aboard a Space X Falcon 9 rocket on Monday.

Hasan Ertok, CEO of Turksat, said that thanks to the expertise of Turkish engineers who produced the Turksat 6A satellite, Turkey has become one of the few countries capable of developing communication satellites. He stressed that Ankara is also on its way to becoming a satellite exporter.

Ertok pointed out that the inclusion of Turksat 6A in the fleet will not only significantly increase coverage in the home country, but will also expand the region to include India, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. He added that the service life of Turksat 6A is about 15 years.

Space Fleet

Turkey’s space fleet now consists of nine active satellites. Turksat 1C, the successor to the first communications satellite Turksat 1B, was launched in 1996, followed by Turksat 2A (2001), Turksat 3A (2008), Turksat 4A (2014), Turksat 4B (2015), and Turksat 5A and 5B in 2021.

The IMECE Earth observation satellite was launched from the United States in 2023 and is expected to serve for five years, providing services ranging from defense to disaster management, from environment to urban planning, from agriculture to forestry.

Gökturk-1, a favorite of the Turkish Armed Forces, which can conduct reconnaissance anywhere in the world and transmit high-resolution images, was launched into space in 2016.

Gökturk-2, produced under a contract signed by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), was launched into orbit in 2012. The satellite serves the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, especially the Air Force Command.

RASAT, the first Earth observation satellite designed and built in Turkey, was launched from Russia in 2011.

© Turkmedia.nl – All rights reserved | AA | Publication date: 07-11-2024