SpaceTRC / Turkish space industry
Türkiye’s space programme tracker
Where are Türkiye’s satellites right now, how far along are the 10 goals of the National Space Programme, and when does the Moon spacecraft launch? Live satellite positions, every Turkish satellite and the past and future milestones in one place.
Live
Where are Turkish satellites right now?
The communications satellites sit 36,000 km up, fixed in the sky above Türkiye; the Earth observation satellites circle the planet roughly every 100 minutes. The map updates every second; dashed lines show each satellite’s ground track for the next hour and the dark area is night.
Ankara pass: the next time the satellite rises more than 10° above the horizon as seen from Ankara. Dish: the angle a satellite dish in Ankara must point to. Positions are computed in your browser with the SGP4 model from orbital elements published by CelesTrak.
National Space Programme
10 goals: where do things stand?
The National Space Programme was announced on 9 February 2021 with 10 goals. The current status of each, based on public official statements:
First contact with the Moon
In progressA domestic, uncrewed Moon spacecraft with its own hybrid propulsion. In August 2026 Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır said it will launch in the first months of 2027.
New-generation satellite development
In progressTürkiye’s first domestically built communications satellite, Türksat 6A, launched on 9 July 2024, and the domestic high-resolution imaging satellite İMECE on 15 April 2023. İMECE-2 and GÖKTÜRK-3 are next.
Regional positioning and timing system
In progressDevelopment of the national system is under way. In the private sector, Fergani Space has put test satellites in orbit for its planned constellation.
Spaceport
In progressTürkiye is building a spaceport in Somalia. Feasibility and design work is complete and the first construction phase is reported to have begun. No opening date has been announced.
Access to space (launch)
In progressROKETSAN’s sounding rocket reached about 136 km in 2020. The ŞİMŞEK-1 (about 400 kg to ~500 km) and ŞİMŞEK-2 (about 1.5 t to ~700 km) launch vehicles are in development.
Space weather
PlanningA goal to monitor how solar activity affects satellites and ground infrastructure. No detailed public timeline yet. Follow today’s space weather in the Space Weather Centre.
Observing celestial objects
In progressThe 4-metre telescope of the Eastern Anatolia Observatory (DAG) near Erzurum sits at 3,170 m; it reached technical first light in 2024 and completed initial testing in 2025.
Space technology development zone
PlanningA space technopark at METU (ODTÜ), bringing institutions and companies together, was announced in 2026.
Space workforce
In progressTürkiye hosted the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) in Antalya on 5–9 October 2026. University satellite and rocket teams are growing.
A Turkish astronaut on a science mission
AchievedAlper Gezeravcı ran 13 experiments on the International Space Station in January 2024; Tuva Cihangir Atasever flew suborbital in June 2024. More on the Astronauts page.
The status assessment is SpaceTRC’s own, based on statements by the Turkish Space Agency, the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the institutions involved.
Inventory
The Turkish satellite fleet
Satellites sent to space by Turkish institutions and companies since 1994. The small satellites include university and start-up projects.
| Satellite | Type | Launch | Rocket | Builder | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Türksat 1A | Communications | 24 Jan 1994 | Ariane 44LP | Aérospatiale | Lost at launch |
| Türksat 1B | Communications | 10 Aug 1994 | Ariane 44LP | Aérospatiale | Retired (2006) |
| Türksat 1C | Communications | 9 Jul 1996 | Ariane 44L | Aérospatiale | Retired (2010) |
| Türksat 2A | Communications | 10 Jan 2001 | Ariane 44P | Alcatel Space | Retired (2016) |
| BİLSAT | Earth observation | 27 Sept 2003 | Kosmos-3M | TÜBİTAK UZAY, SSTL | Retired (2006) |
| Türksat 3A | Communications | 12 Jun 2008 | Ariane 5 ECA | Thales Alenia Space | In service |
| ITUpSAT1 | Small satellite | 23 Sept 2009 | PSLV | İTÜ | Mission complete |
| RASAT | Earth observation | 17 Aug 2011 | Dnepr | TÜBİTAK UZAY | Retired (2022) |
| GÖKTÜRK-2 | Earth observation | 18 Dec 2012 | Long March 2D | TÜBİTAK UZAY, TUSAŞ | In service |
| TÜRKSAT-3USAT | Small satellite | 26 Apr 2013 | Long March 2D | İTÜ, Türksat | Mission complete |
| Türksat 4A | Communications | 14 Feb 2014 | Proton-M | Mitsubishi Electric | In service |
| Türksat 4B | Communications | 16 Oct 2015 | Proton-M | Mitsubishi Electric | In service |
| GÖKTÜRK-1 | Earth observation | 5 Dec 2016 | Vega | Telespazio, Thales Alenia Space, TUSAŞ | In service |
| BeEagleSAT, HAVELSAT | Small satellite | 18 Apr 2017 | Atlas V | İTÜ, HAVELSAN | Mission complete |
| UBAKUSAT | Small satellite | 2 Apr 2018 | Falcon 9 | İTÜ | Mission complete |
| Türksat 5A | Communications | 8 Jan 2021 | Falcon 9 | Airbus | In service |
| Türksat 5B | Communications | 19 Dec 2021 | Falcon 9 | Airbus | In service |
| GRIZU-263A | Small satellite | 13 Jan 2022 | Falcon 9 | Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University | In service |
| Connecta T1.1 | Small satellite | 25 May 2022 | Falcon 9 | Plan-S | In service |
| Connecta T1.2 | Small satellite | 3 Jan 2023 | Falcon 9 | Plan-S | In service |
| İMECE | Earth observation | 15 Apr 2023 | Falcon 9 | TÜBİTAK UZAY | In service |
| Connecta T2.1 | Small satellite | 15 Apr 2023 | Falcon 9 | Plan-S | In service |
| Connecta T3.1, T3.2 | Small satellite | 11 Nov 2023 | Falcon 9 | Plan-S | In service |
| Türksat 6A | Communications | 9 Jul 2024 | Falcon 9 | TÜBİTAK UZAY, TUSAŞ, ASELSAN, CTech | In service |
| Connecta IoT 1–4 | Small satellite | 16 Aug 2024 | Falcon 9 | Plan-S | In service |
| Connecta IoT 5–8 | Small satellite | 14 Jan 2025 | Falcon 9 | Plan-S | In service |
| FGN-100-d1 | Small satellite | 14 Jan 2025 | Falcon 9 | Fergani Space | In service |
| SkyLink 1, 2 | Small satellite | 14 Jan 2025 | Falcon 9 | Hello Space | In service |
| FRG-100D4 | Small satellite | 20 Oct 2026 | Falcon 9 | Fergani Space | In service |
History
Timeline: past and future
Türkiye’s milestones in space. Hollow markers are planned steps; dates may change with official announcements.
- Türksat 1B
Türkiye’s first communications satellite entered service. Türksat 1A, launched in January 1994, was lost in a rocket failure.
- BİLSAT
Türkiye’s first Earth observation satellite, built with the UK’s SSTL.
- ITUpSAT1
The first Turkish CubeSat, built by Istanbul Technical University.
- RASAT
The first Earth observation satellite designed and built in Türkiye.
- Turkish Space Agency founded
The agency bringing space work under one roof was founded on 13 December 2018.
- A sounding rocket to space
ROKETSAN’s sounding rocket reached about 136 km, crossing the edge of space.
- National Space Programme
The 10-goal programme was announced on 9 February 2021.
- İMECE
The first domestic high-resolution imaging satellite launched.
- Alper Gezeravcı
The first Turkish astronaut flew to the International Space Station on Ax-3.
- Tuva Cihangir Atasever
The second Turkish astronaut flew suborbital.
- Türksat 6A
The first domestically built communications satellite launched.
- Eight Turkish satellites on one launch
Transporter-12 carried satellites from Plan-S, Fergani, Hello Space and ITU to orbit.
- IAC 2026 Antalya
The 77th International Astronautical Congress was held in Antalya on 5–9 October.
- FRG-100D4
Fergani Space’s new test satellite launched on 20 October.
- Moon spacecraft
Target for launching the domestic, hybrid-propelled uncrewed Moon spacecraft.
- İMECE-2 and ŞİMŞEK-1
Target year for İMECE’s successor and ROKETSAN’s ŞİMŞEK-1 launch vehicle.
- GÖKTÜRK-3 and İMECE-3
Announced target year for new-generation Earth observation satellites.
- Somalia spaceport
A spaceport from which Türkiye can launch its own satellites.
Institutions
Türkiye’s space ecosystem
The public agencies, industry and new-space start-ups behind the programme.
Runs the National Space Programme; led the Turkish astronaut project.
Lead institute for RASAT, GÖKTÜRK-2, İMECE and Türksat 6A.
R&D on rocket motors and propulsion systems.
Sounding rockets and the ŞİMŞEK launch vehicles.
Works on the GÖKTÜRK satellites; runs a satellite integration and test centre in Ankara.
Operates the Türksat communications satellites for broadcasting and communications.
Communications and electronics subsystems; contributed to Türksat 6A.
Works on the Moon spacecraft’s hybrid rocket motor.
The Connecta Internet of Things constellation.
Positioning and orbital transfer vehicle work.
SkyLink small satellites.
Atatürk University, Erzurum: Türkiye’s largest optical telescope.
For the full story of each satellite see Turkish satellites, for history Türkiye’s space and satellite history, and to see every satellite in 3D open the 3D Satellite Globe.
- Live positions: CelesTrak GP orbital data (updated every 3 hours).
- National Space Programme and Moon spacecraft: Turkish Space Agency; statement by Industry and Technology Minister M. F. Kacır, August 2026 (Anadolu Agency).
- Somalia spaceport: Euronews, January 2026. ŞİMŞEK: ROKETSAN General Manager, September 2026 (AA).
- Satellite list: Türksat, TÜBİTAK UZAY, Plan-S, Fergani and university announcements; FRG-100D4: CNN Türk, October 2026.
- DAG: Atatürk University and project announcements.
Last updated: 2 November 2026