Turkey’s first home-built communications satellite goes into orbit

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said mission is of 'great importance for our country's future in space'

Turkey joined the ranks of countries building their own communications satellites this month. AP

The launch of its first home-built communications satellite marks a new phase for Turkey, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The satellite was launched into orbit on July 9, in an effort to widen the country's satellite coverage and meet its television broadcasting needs, reported Reuters.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the satellite into space from the Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

“As Turkey, we produced more than 81 per cent of the subsystems, satellite ground stations and software in the 6A project, which is of great importance for our country's future in space, with national resources,” said Mr Erdogan.

The first signal from Turksat 6A was received 67 minutes after launch, as planned, said Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu.

“We will have brought our own communications, our television broadcasts to a safer, better level,” he said.

One giant leap for Turkey

Alper Gezeravci, Turkey's first astronaut, spent three weeks on the International Space Station (ISS) this year.

The 44-year-old fighter pilot with the Turkish Air Force, and three fellow astronauts were on the Axiom-3 mission, which launched aboard a SpaceX rocket from Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

“I deeply feel the value and responsibility of this moment as we expand the boundaries of science and discovery in the light of our rising star,” Mr Gezeravci posted on X from aboard the ISS, along with a selfie in front of the cupola, the space station's panoramic window.

Turkey signed a deal with Axiom Space, a Houston-based company that arranges space trips, in 2022.

The company also assisted missions for the UAE and Saudi Arabia, including Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi's six-month stay aboard the ISS.