As a result of the investments it has made in the field of Defense Industry for many years, Turkey has opened the door to rockets that will enable it to go into space. After nearly 40 years and thousands of people’s sweat, a rocket that we can see in the near future has finally emerged under the roof of ROKETSAN.
ROKETSAN is developing rockets for the Micro Satellite Launch System!
Currently, we are sending all domestic and imported satellites, especially Göktürk satellites, into space through foreign companies, especially SpaceX. In fact, in the program where we will make the first contact with the surface of the Moon next year, Elon Musk’s Falcon 9 rocket will carry the locally developed spacecraft out of the atmosphere.
However, ROKETSAN is developing a new rocket called MUFA (Micro Satellite Launch System). The first test launch will be carried out in 2026-2027. However, according to the information shared by ROKETSAN Advanced Technologies and Systems Deputy General Manager, some structural changes were made to the rocket.
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In the first designed version, it was planned to carry a load of up to 100 kilograms to 400 km. That would be enough to get it into LEO orbit. However, after the improvements made, the load capacity was increased up to 400 kilograms. Its range will be around 550 km.
In order to achieve this, it is stated that cryogenic rocket engine technologies will be used predominantly. Of course, this system is only designed to carry microsatellites. The other 2 rockets, which are still under development and will start their tests until 2030, will reach 3 or 4 times both in range and payload capacity.
In addition, another development is being experienced by TÜBİTAK. TÜBİTAK SAGE Energetic Systems Coordinator Ömer Sümer said that they are continuing their work on reusable, vertical landing rockets. Of course, at this point, we saw in SpaceX’s trials that software is as important as hardware.
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