Türkiye's first homegrown orbital vehicle begins historic space mission

Türkiye has entered a new era in space technology with the successful deployment of its first entirely domestically engineered orbital transfer vehicle (OTV), the FGN-TUG-S01. Launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base, the vehicle represents a critical milestone in Türkiye's ambitions to establish independent orbital logistics and positioning capabilities.

A Pioneering Hybrid Engine Test

The FGN-TUG-S01, developed by Turkish firm Fergani Space, is scheduled to perform a groundbreaking maneuver: firing the world's first hybrid rocket engine in orbit. This low-cost, safe propulsion system is designed to transport and reposition satellites, extending their operational lifespans by moving them between different orbital altitudes. The success of this test will position Türkiye as the first nation to demonstrate hybrid engine technology in the space environment, a significant technical achievement.

Enabling Future Constellation and GPS Ambitions

The vehicle's primary mission is to transport Fergani Space's satellites from their initial low-Earth orbit at approximately 500 kilometers to higher mission orbits above 1,000 kilometers. This capability is foundational for Türkiye's strategic space goals. Selcuk Bayraktar, CEO of Fergani Space, stated that the mission forms the "baseline of the critical infrastructure" for developing "Ulugbey," a planned domestic global positioning system (GPS) independent of foreign networks. Bayraktar outlined an ambitious vision to provide positioning and space logistics to Türkiye and allied nations with a constellation of over 100 satellites within five years.

Domestic Engineering and Strategic Autonomy

Every critical system onboard the OTV—including the flight computer, avionics, power distribution, and thermal control—was developed domestically by Fergani Space engineers. This complete vertical integration underscores Türkiye's commitment to achieving strategic autonomy in space technology. Bayraktar emphasized that the OTV, a "product of domestic engineering, will initiate Türkiye’s mobility in space," highlighting its role as a catalyst for more complex future missions, including satellite constellation deployment and advanced space logistics.