Türkiye is set to mark a historic milestone in its space program with the official commissioning of Türksat 6A, the nation's first domestically produced communication satellite, today at 1 p.m. local time (11 a.m. GMT).

The ceremony, to be attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will celebrate a significant leap in Türkiye's satellite technology capabilities.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced the event, emphasizing the satellite's role in expanding Türkiye's global reach. "Türksat 6A will increase our satellite coverage from 3.5 billion to 5 billion people and is designed to operate for at least 15 years," Uraloğlu said.

The minister highlighted Türkiye's three-decade journey in satellite technology, starting with Türksat 1B in 1994, followed by Türksat 1C in 1996 and Türksat 2A in 2001. Türksat 6A, developed by local engineers trained through Türksat's Technology Transfer Program, boasts the highest domestic content rate of any Turkish satellite to date. "This achievement places Türkiye among the 11 countries worldwide capable of producing communication satellites," Uraloğlu noted.

Launched in July 2024, Türksat 6A successfully reached its designated orbit by December, paving the way for today's inauguration. The satellite is expected to bolster Türkiye's communication infrastructure and strengthen its position in the global space industry. (ILKHA)