TUSAŞ and ROKETSAN signed the HÜRSAT-2 project contract on the sidelines of the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), held in Antalya, in a step that moves the HÜRSAT program from developing a single satellite to building a family of satellites based on a shared architecture suitable for serial production.
HÜRSAT is described as the first Turkish family of satellites suitable for serial production, with the possibility of configuring it for different missions within a mass range of 200 to 650 kilograms. TUSAŞ is currently continuing tests on HÜRSAT-1, which is also undergoing pre-launch preparations at its facilities. Its orbital missions are intended to validate core technologies and the suitability of the proposed architecture for repeated production.
What changes in practice?
The HÜRSAT-2 project calls for reducing the satellite’s weight compared with HÜRSAT-1, but it is not merely an additional satellite project. According to the announced information, the two companies seek to establish a shared platform that can be modified according to the needs of users, payloads, and missions, rather than designing a separate system for each mission.
This approach aims to reduce manufacturing times and costs, establish a more sustainable supply chain, and strengthen TUSAŞ’s global commercial competitiveness in the satellite market. The system also supports operating multiple satellites simultaneously in low Earth orbit, which could enable an increased rate of imaging the same area and reduce data access time as the number of satellites increases.
System capabilities and components
HÜRSAT is planned to operate in a sun-synchronous orbit, providing sub-meter-resolution imaging and coverage of wide areas, alongside the ability to carry out multiple missions within a compact structure. TUSAŞ will develop the satellite computer, power units, and interfaces, in addition to space and ground software, and will also oversee command and control activities.
These responsibilities indicate that the program targets an integrated architecture developed domestically, extending from the satellite platform to the ground segment and operations, rather than merely manufacturing the spacecraft structure.
Linking the satellite and the launch platform
The cooperation also includes linking TUSAŞ satellites to a launch platform being developed by ROKETSAN. Turkish officials said during the signing ceremony that the aim is to launch the satellite using domestic capabilities, while Murat İkinci, ROKETSAN’s general manager, said that the platform called Şimşek would be used to transport satellites into space, and that the contract represents the company’s first contract in this field, according to his statement.
However, the article does not specify a launch date for HÜRSAT-1 or HÜRSAT-2, nor does it provide details about the specifications or operational readiness of the Şimşek platform. Therefore, the signing of the contract represents the beginning of a lengthy development, manufacturing, and testing process, not in itself evidence that the family has entered the commercial operations or actual launch phase.
Why does this news matter?
The project’s technical significance lies in attempting to standardize a repeatable space platform with domestic software, ground, and launch components. If its objectives are achieved, this could give Turkey a faster way to form small and medium-sized satellite constellations dedicated to different missions, while reducing the need to redesign the entire system for each customer or mission. Whether these promises are fulfilled remains linked to the results of HÜRSAT-1’s tests and the program’s ability to move from the prototype stage to serial production and reliable launches.