President Erdoğan: We are determined to become one of the 10 countries capable of developing communication satellites
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed an event held to introduce Turkey’s national space programme.
“TURKEY IS NOW CAPABLE OF DEVELOPING ITS OWN SATELLITES”
Drawing attention to the progress Turkey has made in space studies in terms of human resources, designing and engineering thanks to the investments made over the past 18 years, President Erdoğan said Turkey is now capable of developing, producing and testing its own satellites. Describing GÖKTÜRK-2 satellite as the first example of Turkey’s prowess in satellite development, President Erdoğan added that next in line is GÖKTÜRK-3 satellite, which will be able to provide high resolution image day and night in all weather conditions.
Turkey’s first domestically produced high-resolution ground observation satellite İMECE, whose tests are underway, will be launched into space in 2022, the President pointed out, and further stressed: “Building on our experience in observation satellites, we are determined to become one of the 10 countries capable of developing communication satellites by their own means.”
“TURKEY IS AN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER IN THE AREA OF SPACE SYSTEMS”
The number of Turkey’s active communication satellites has risen to four with the launch of TÜRKSAT 5-A last month, President Erdoğan stated, adding that TÜRKSAT 6-A, set to be Turkey’s first indigenously produced communication satellite, will be sent to its orbit in space in 2022.
Emphasizing the importance Turkey attaches to institutional capacity in space studies, President Erdoğan noted that Turkey, which provides installation, integration and testing services, is now an international player in the area of space systems.
Turkey has provided 2.1 billion Turkish liras for 56 projects through TUBİTAK alone about satellite, space, launching systems and space equipment in 18 years, President Erdoğan highlighted, saying: “The civilization we represent taking the lead in the world again depends on the progress Turkey will make in space race. We should revitalize our civilization in order for the whole humanity, not just some part of it, to achieve peace and serenity.”
“THE PRIMARY GOAL IS TO MAKE THE FIRST CONTACT WITH THE MOON IN THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLIC”
Outlining the objectives of Turkey’s national space programme, President Erdoğan said that the primary and most important goal in the national space programme is to make the first contact with the Moon in the 100th anniversary of the Republic.
Further elaborating on Turkey’s space vision, President Erdoğan listed the goals of the space programme as to create a trademark that can compete with the world in the field of next-generation satellite development, develop a regional positioning and timing system, provide access to space and establish a spaceport, increase competence in space by investing in what is called space weather or meteorology, set up astronomical observation posts and bring Turkey to a higher level when it comes to tracking space objects from the ground, further develop the ecosystem of Turkey’s space industry, establish a space technology development zone, develop Turkey’s effective and competent human resources in space studies, and send a Turkish citizen to space.
“TURKEY IS PRESENT IN LIBYA FOR TRAINING PURPOSES”
Regarding French President Emmanuel Macron’s remarks about Turkey, President Erdoğan said France should first account for the 1 million people it killed in Algeria and hundreds of thousands of people it killed in Rwanda.
In response to President Macron’s statement that Turkey should withdraw its troops from Libya, President Erdoğan underlined that Turkey is present in Libya only for training purposes in accordance with the military and security agreement between Turkey and Libya.
