Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, announced that the pre-launch tests for the Turksat 6A satellite at SpaceX facilities in Florida are nearly complete.
This milestone marks a significant step toward the launch of Türkiye’s first domestically produced and national communication satellite.
Uraloğlu emphasized that the integration and testing of the Turksat 6A satellite were conducted at the Space Systems Integration and Test (USET) Centre over ten years. This project involved collaboration between Türksat and TAI, with contributions from TÜBİTAK Space, ASELSAN, TAI, and C2TECH, achieving the highest local content rate.
Uraloğlu highlighted that the Turksat 6A satellite, which arrived at SpaceX facilities on June 6, is now in the final stages of pre-launch testing. The launch is scheduled for the second week of July, using SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
“We have reached the final stage in the largest R&D project of our country with a localisation rate of over 80 per cent, and everything is progressing in accordance with the schedule,” he said.
The Minister underscored the importance of the successful commissioning of Turksat 6A for Türkiye. He explained that the satellite’s production, with a localisation rate of 81 per cent, signifies that every part produced locally will gain space experience. This development will enable Türkiye to export these satellite components globally, making the country a significant player in the satellite and space sector.
Uraloğlu noted that the project reduces foreign dependency on critical components in the satellite and space sector, enhancing national security. He also mentioned the economic impact, stating, “A communication satellite has a value of approximately 250 million USD. This project will also significantly contribute to creating trained human resources in the satellite industry.”
The launch of Turksat 6A is expected to mark a turning point for Türkiye, propelling the country into a new era in the space race. (ILKHA)
