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.