Turkey approves construction of its first satellite launching center

According to a report by the US defense magazine Defense News, Turkey is planning to construct its first satellite launching center. "The Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), in early July signed a contract with the country's national missile manufacturer, Roketsan, to build the Turkish Satellite Launching System (UFS) for pre-conceptual design work. Roketsan will design the UFS to be capable of launching, initially, satellites into low earth orbit (500 to 700 kilometers) through a launching center the company will build and the Turkish Air Force will operate." the report said. A Roketsan official said they intended to end the country's foreign dependency on launching military and [civilian] communications satellites. On the other hand, an SSM official stated that one reason for the UFS project was the aim towards a compact space program, including a national launcher.