Turkey moves to launch space agency

ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish government has finalized a draft bill for the launching of the country's first space agency. The bill has been submitted to parliament for debate and vote.

According to the draft bill, the Turkish Space Agency would determine basic policies and strategies in space and aviation technologies. It will also be expected to help develop a competitive local space industry "not dependent on foreign [technology]." The agency is expected to increase Turkey's space capabilities.

The ruling Justice and Development Party's parliamentary majority is set to comfortably pass the non-controversial bill.

The bill defines the mission of the Turkish Space Agency, chaired by the prime minister, as: reducing dependence on foreign technology, coordinating work for space platforms, launching facilities and systems, and helping develop, integrate, launch, monitor and operate aerospace systems.

Its executive board chairman will be the prime minister. Other members will be the ministers of science, industry and technology; development; defense; and transport, maritime and communications.

The law would authorize the Turkish Space Agency to form companies at home or abroad, buy shares in existing companies, or acquire companies.

Before finalizing the draft, Turkish government officials studied similar legal framework in the United States (NASA's), Japan, Germany and France.

Turkey also is working on plans to build a satellite launching station. Aerospace officials say some of the potential locations for the station were Datca on Turkey's southwestern coast and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, a breakaway Turkish state recognized only by Turkey.

In its most recent space effort, Turkey in December launched Gokturk-1, a new military satellite that the country said is "20 percent Turkish" and will help the country in its anti-terror efforts. 

The Gokturk-1 is a high-resolution optical Earth observation satellite for civilian and military applications. It can scan high-resolution images (up to 0.8 meters) and features an onboard X-band digital imaging system to handle data compression, storage, and downloading. 

Having already spent about $1 billion on satellite programs, Ankara wants to nationalize the satellite business. The Turkish government aims to build the first fully indigenous Turkish satellite by 2019. Turkey wants to invest more in software, design and platforms.

Key local players in the ambitious satellite programs are military electronics specialist Aselsan, Turkey's biggest defense firm; Tubitak Uzay, the state scientific research space department; Turkish Aerospace Industries; and CTech, a software company.

Turkey wants to be operating a fleet of 10 satellites by 2023.

In 2015, Turkish Aerospace Industries launched a $112 million Space Systems Integration and Test Center where more than one satellite of up to 5 tons could be assembled, integrated and tested.

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