Türkiye's 1st self-developed orbital transfer vehicle starts mission in space

ISTANBUL, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye's first domestically developed orbital transfer vehicle, the FGN-TUG-S01, has successfully started its mission in space, marking a major milestone for the country's emerging space capabilities, authorities said Tuesday.

The vehicle was launched on Friday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the United States.

The vehicle, developed by Turkish space tech company Fergani Space, carries "the world's first hybrid engine" to be ignited in orbit, said the company.

This "safe and low-cost hybrid propulsion system" makes it possible for the vehicle to transport satellites to different orbits, prolonging their mission life, it said.

The vehicle has transmitted its first telemetry signals, officially beginning in-orbit operation, said Fergani Space CEO Selcuk Bayraktar in an X post.

The mission is viewed as a key step for Türkiye's future satellite constellation, part of the country's long-term ambition to build an independent satellite navigation and positioning system. Enditem