Will Turkey finally launch space agency?
With the launch of its second active military satellite on Dec. 5, Turkey now has five satellites in orbit and is planning for even more activity in space.
Turkey's efforts in the satellite space race have experienced turbulence over the years, but they got a boost with the recent launch of its Gokturk-1 satellite, which will meet the country’s civilian and military intelligence needs around the world.
Gokturk-1 launched Dec. 5 from French Guiana as a Turkish air force project and has become the country's second active military satellite and fifth overall. The Gokturk-2 military satellite launched in 2012.
Turkey has a $1 billion budget for ambitious in-country satellite projects. Using satellite production facilities it set up in the Kazan district of Ankara in 2015 with an investment of $112 million, its goal is to launch in 2017 Turksat 5A and Turksat 5B satellites, which will be jointly manufactured with foreign partners. Turksat 6A, which will be produced 100% locally, is expected to launch in 2019. The country is also building a satellite launching station in the Mediterranean province of Mugla.
Turkey wants to increase its number of satellites to 10 by 2023. The goal is to operate a fleet that will cover South America, eastern North America, Europe, Asia, Western Australia and all of Africa. When that project is complete, Turkey will have direct communication links with 91% of the world population through its own satellites.
