Work on the ŞİMŞEK 1 and ŞİMŞEK 2 Satellite Launch System projects, developed by ROKETSAN under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries, continues in line with the planned schedule.
Studies to expand Turkey's capacity in the field of space are moving to a new stage. ŞİMŞEK 1 and ŞİMŞEK 2 Satellite Launch System projects developed by ROKETSAN are progressing towards the goal of Turkey to be able to deliver its own satellites to orbit with its own launch infrastructure.
According to the latest statements of ROKETSAN General Manager Murat İkin, both projects continue in accordance with the current schedule. Second, he stated that they aim to ensure Turkey's independent access to space after the successful launches of ŞİMŞEK 1 and ŞİMŞEK 2.
ŞİMŞEK 1 will carry a payload of 400 kilograms
ŞİMŞEK 1, which constitutes the first phase of the program, is being developed as a launch system that can place a payload weighing approximately 400 kilograms into an orbit of around 500 kilometers.
The payload here is not limited to just one satellite. With the development of the system, it is aimed to transport different space vehicles and mission payloads from Turkey to space.
One of the critical points of the project is that the launch operation can be carried out from Turkish territory. Thus, Türkiye aims to go beyond being a country that only develops satellites and spacecraft, and to create the launch infrastructure that can carry these systems into orbit.
This capability is considered an important technological threshold in the space ecosystem. Because a country can operate sustainably in space; In addition to satellite production, it requires the joint development of many sub-technologies such as launch vehicles, engine and propulsion systems, navigation, avionics, thermal management, material technologies and ground systems.
With ŞİMŞEK 2, the capacity will increase to 1.5 tons
The second phase of the program, aimed at higher capacity, is ŞİMŞEK 2.
ŞİMŞEK 2, whose contract was signed last year, is planned to be developed with the capacity to carry a payload of approximately 1.5 tons to orbits up to 700 kilometers.
For this reason, ŞİMŞEK 2 is considered not only as a system for Turkey to launch its own satellites, but also as a commercial launch platform.
ROKETSAN aims to commercialize ŞİMŞEK 2 within the scope of international cooperation in the future and for Turkey to provide a launch service that can carry other countries' satellites into orbit.
If this model can be implemented, the capability that will emerge for Türkiye will not only be limited to technological independence. Since satellite launch services are one of the direct revenue-generating areas of the global space economy, the commercial use of ŞİMŞEK 2 may also expand Turkey's economic activities in the space field.
ROKETSAN's space studies are not new
Behind the ŞİMŞEK program, there is not only a development process that has just begun. ROKETSAN has been carrying out flight and technology demonstration activities for space technologies through probe rockets and different platforms for a long time.
Murat İkin states that within the scope of the studies carried out since 2016, space technologies have been tested with different platforms and a significant technological accumulation has been achieved in this process.
In this respect, ŞİMŞEK 1 and ŞİMŞEK 2 represent the bringing together of rocket, propulsion, navigation, material and flight technologies developed over the years within a larger launch system, rather than two rocket projects that emerged alone.
Turkey's previous probe rocket activities were also one of the important parts of this technology accumulation. In the report of the Presidential Strategy and Budget Directorate on space studies, probe rocket activities for testing ŞİMŞEK-1 technologies and the Satellite Launch Center planned to be established in Turkey are mentioned.
Reusable rocket target to reduce launch costs
Another striking aspect of the ŞİMŞEK program is that ROKETSAN is working on reusable rocket stages for later stages.
It is stated that reusable stages will not be used in the ŞİMŞEK 1 and ŞİMŞEK 2 launches, which will be carried out in the first phase. However, the subsystems to be developed and qualified on these platforms are planned to be evaluated in the next generation reusable launch systems.
The main goal here is to reduce the cost per kilogram of access to space.
The development of reusable launch systems is critical to competitiveness, especially in the commercial satellite launch market. The ability to use a rocket or rocket stage in more than one mission can reduce the need to produce a new vehicle for each launch, thus reducing operational costs.
ROKETSAN's current approach is based on transferring the technological competencies to be gained in ŞİMŞEK 1 and ŞİMŞEK 2 to more advanced generation launch systems.
It's not just rockets that are critical in space technologies
In Turkey's goal of independent space access, many sub-technology areas need to be developed in addition to ŞİMŞEK projects.
According to ROKETSAN's statements, studies are being carried out on navigation, engine, propulsion, thermal and material technologies. The company also cooperates with universities, public institutions and industrial organizations.
This point also increases the importance of the ŞİMŞEK program for the defense industry. Many technologies used in launch vehicles simultaneously require a wide engineering ecosystem, from high-performance engines to precise navigation systems, from high-temperature resistant materials to electronic systems.
This is why ROKETSAN's approach to include the existing defense industry supply chain in space projects is important. According to the statements made to Anadolu Agency, the company has a supply ecosystem consisting of approximately 2,500 active business partners and it is aimed to increase the competencies of this infrastructure for space projects.
ŞİMŞEK 2 could move Turkey to the commercial launch market
The long-term goal of the ŞİMŞEK program is not only for Turkey to send its own satellites into space.
In particular, ŞİMŞEK 2's 1.5-ton payload capacity and orbit target of up to 700 kilometers reveal a capacity that can pave the way for the system to be used in international commercial launch services.
ROKETSAN aims to commercialize this system through international collaborations and create a service model for sending satellites of other countries into space from Turkey. When this happens, Türkiye will have made an important progress in its goal of being among the countries that provide satellite launch services as well as satellite production and operation.
However, there is an important distinction at this point: Although the targeted capacity and mission profiles of ŞİMŞEK 1 and ŞİMŞEK 2 have been announced, an exact date for the first launch has not yet been announced to the public. ROKETSAN only states that the projects are progressing in accordance with the schedule and that the launches are aimed to be carried out after the completion of the work.
It is also linked to Turkey's Moon program
ROKETSAN's space activities are not limited to the goal of placing satellites in Earth orbit. The company assumes responsibility for the development of launch platforms within the scope of Turkey's National Space Program and Moon targets.
In this respect, ŞİMŞEK projects can be considered as a technology step in terms of longer-term space goals. The development of rocket, navigation, propulsion, thermal and ground systems required for access to Earth orbit will contribute to the creation of the technological infrastructure required for further space missions.
ROKETSAN General Manager Murat Ikinci also states that the Moon program requires coordination with different institutions and international partners, and that the company is responsible for the development of platforms that will carry payloads to space within the scope of this program.
The next critical stage for ŞİMŞEK is launch
In terms of Turkey's goals in the space field, the most critical stage for the ŞİMŞEK program will be the verification of the developed technologies with a real orbital mission.
ŞİMŞEK 1 can take a payload of approximately 400 kilograms to an orbit of around 500 kilometers, and then ŞİMŞEK 2 can go up to 700 kilometers with a payload capacity of 1.5 tons; It means gradually expanding Turkey's capacity in the launch field.
The information disclosed as of today shows that the development activities of the projects are continuing and progressing according to schedule. The first successful launch will be the most important verification phase of the project in terms of Turkey's goal of independent access to space.
