Türkiye's growing space industry reached a historic milestone as Fergani Space, a Turkish aerospace company founded by Selçuk Bayraktar, successfully launched its first satellite FGN-100-d1 into orbit.
The launch was part of the Transporter-12 mission, conducted from Vandenberg Space Force Base in the United States. This mission carried 131 payloads, ranging from cube satellites and microsatellites to orbital transfer vehicles, marking a significant step forward for both Fergani Space and Türkiye's aerospace sector.
“The FGN-100-d1 satellite, designed to provide global communication and geo-positioning capabilities, represents a significant leap in next-generation technologies," the company stated. Developed entirely in-house by Fergani Space, the satellite now orbits at an altitude of 500 kilometers, following a successful separation from the launch vehicle approximately 62 minutes after liftoff.
Founded in 2022, Fergani Space focuses on developing commercial satellites, advanced satellite components, and orbital transfer vehicles powered by original propulsion systems. The FGN-100-d1 is currently the largest satellite ever built by a private Turkish company, underscoring Fergani's commitment to innovation and self-reliance in the space industry.
Selçuk Bayraktar, who also serves as the CEO of pioneering Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, celebrated the achievement in a video shared online. Bayraktar described the launch as a “first step into space" and highlighted the company's ambitions to establish the Uluğ Bey global positioning system through a constellation of low-Earth orbit satellites.
“This project was entirely self-funded, and our satellite has successfully completed its initial maneuvers in space," Bayraktar explained, adding that the company plans to launch up to 100 satellites to enhance global positioning and communication capabilities.
The FGN-100-d1 satellite features an advanced hydrogen peroxide-based propulsion system, whose engine successfully passed a critical firing test in May 2024. The successful deployment of this technology solidifies Fergani Space's reputation as a trailblazer in Türkiye's space ecosystem.
The same mission also carried satellites from Plan-S, another privately held Turkish space technology company, which launched four Connecta IoT satellites. Plan-S continues to innovate in IoT and 6G NTN communication technologies, having deployed nine satellites to date as part of its global IoT satellite network.
Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır congratulated both Fergani Space and Plan-S on their accomplishments. “Today marks a significant step for our space ecosystem, which continues to grow in alignment with our National Space Program goals," the Minister announced, applauding the companies' contributions to advancing Türkiye's space ambitions and its vision of becoming the global nexus of technology.