Türkiye launches 2nd LUNA satellite for IoT services

Turkish defense industry leader Aselsan announced Monday that it has successfully sent its second satellite, LUNA-2, into orbit from California aboard a SpaceX rocket. The launch marks the latest advancement in the company’s space-based Internet of Things (IoT) solutions program, following the deployment of its first satellite, LUNA-1, in December last year. With this milestone, Aselsan continues to expand its footprint in Türkiye’s growing space ecosystem by leveraging its indigenous expertise in satellite communications, payload systems, ground control infrastructure, and platform solutions.

A fully domestic nanosatellite

Despite its compact size as a nanosatellite, LUNA-2 is engineered to deliver secure and uninterrupted transmission of sensor data even in the most remote locations. The satellite utilizes a dedicated LoRa communication system, which enables wide-area coverage with minimal energy consumption. This capability makes LUNA-2 particularly valuable for IoT applications across agriculture, logistics, disaster management, and environmental monitoring, where reliable connectivity is often lacking.

In‑house engineering from software to hardware

Aselsan emphasized that all design, development, production, integration, and testing processes for LUNA-2 were carried out entirely in‑house. Turkish engineers also developed the flight software, ground control software, the LoRa transceiver card serving as the payload, and the data transfer unit using domestic resources. This end‑to‑end national capability underscores Türkiye’s growing self‑sufficiency in advanced space technologies and reduces reliance on foreign systems.

Strengthening Türkiye’s space ambitions

The successful launch of LUNA-2 is expected to further enhance Aselsan’s capabilities in the space-based IoT field and contribute directly to Türkiye’s strategic goal of building an independent, competitive, and sustainable space technology ecosystem. With two operational satellites now in orbit, Aselsan has positioned itself as a key player in the nation’s space endeavors. As Türkiye continues to invest in domestic satellite programs, the LUNA series represents a concrete step toward securing national technological sovereignty in the rapidly evolving domain of space-based connectivity.