President Erdoğan: We will be securing our space rights with the TURKSAT 5A satellite for the next 30 years
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed via videoconference the Satellite Technologies Week Special Session.
Underlining that Turkey increased the number of its satellites operating in space to seven with the TURKSAT 5A satellite, launched this morning from the US into space, President Erdoğan said that the number of Turkey’s active communication satellites has risen to four with the TURKSAT 5A, which was designed for intelligence and communication purposes and has a coverage area spanning Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South Africa, Central Africa, the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea.
Turkey is one of the 30 countries with orbital rights in space, the President stated. “With the TURKSAT 5A satellite, launched into space this morning, we will be securing our space rights in the eastern orbit for the next 30 years. I believe that our satellite, which will settle in its orbit approximately four months later, will provide auspicious services for Turkey and our friends.”
“WE WILL LAUNCH INTO SPACE A HIGH-DEFINITION OBSERVATION SATELLITE NEXT YEAR”
With the TURKSAT 5B, also set to be launched this year, Turkey is planning to reach a new level in its efforts to send satellites to space going on since 1994, noted President Erdoğan, adding: “In 2011, we launched from Russia into space the RASAT, our earth observation satellite which we had domestically designed and produced. In 2012, we launched from China into space the GOKTURK-2 satellite, which we had domestically designed and developed for the use of the Turkish Air Forces. In 2016, we launched from French Guiana the GOKTURK-1 satellite, which has been providing valuable data for the Turkish Air Forces and other institutions of ours. Our goal is to launch the TURKSAT 6A, the first domestically produced communication satellite, into space in 2022. This satellite, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is an important project. And next year, we will hopefully launch into space the IMECE, a high definition observation satellite we have domestically designed and produced.”
“WE ARE DETERMINED TO MAKE TURKEY A LEADING COUNTRY IN THE FIELD OF SPACE AND SATELLITE TECHNOLOGIES”
Drawing attention to Turkey’s vigorous efforts to develop and launch into space microsatellites, President Erdoğan said: “To this end, we are setting up a facility to launch microsatellites. We are supporting satellite development efforts by state institutions, universities and private sector. We are especially glad to witness the enthusiasm and perseverance of our youth in this field.”
President Erdoğan continued: “We are determined to make Turkey a leading country in the field of space and satellite technologies which are in use in a wide range of areas from communication and defense industry to energy, environmental protection and urban development monitoring.”
