Türkiye launched its Turksat 5A satellite to orbit on January 8.
The Falcon 9 rocket launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in the U.S., carries Turksat 5A satellite.
“The first signal came from our Turksat 5A satellite after 35 minutes. Our satellite continues its journey and this journey will take 4 months. Then we will do our tests and the satellite will be activated," Türkiye's Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu said. "With Turksat 5A's coming into service, we will add the Middle East and Africa Continents to our coverage in addition to the East and the West," he added.
The broadcast satellite will settle into orbit in four months and is expected to start service in the second half of 2021. Türksat 5A will provide television services and improve broadband data networks.
Once Türksat 5A comes into service in orbit, the number of Türkiye's active communication satellites in space will increase to 7.