Turkey, which launched the nation's first domestic mini communications satellite from China in April, is about to embark upon opening a very significant center for space research.

While gaining momentum on the nation's aerospace efforts, Turkey will soon be establishing its first space research test center. France's mega Thales Group, which has 65,000 employees, and Italian firm Finmeccanica have joined forces on a satellite and orbital infrastructure firm which will be opening up a space test center in Turkey next year.

Named the AIT Center, the center will also be Turkey's first stationary satellite integration test area.

TO BE COMPLETED IN 2014

Thales Alenia Space first signed on to build the center in 2010 within the framework of the Göktürk satellite program. Thales Alenia Space has announced plans to being working on the first unit for the center, which will encompass a 3,000 square meter enclosed area, beginning in October. An announcement on the firm's website stated that the center in Turkey will be completed by May, 2014.

Latest generation technology

The facility will not only be integrated with a number of telecommunication and observation satellites, but the facility will also be conducting mechanic oscillation testing. The center, which will have systems integrated with the latest technology, will also contain a 950 cubic meter-sized acoustic test room. The center will also include a 350 cubic meter-sized thermal vacuum room

TUSAŞ Aerospace to manage facilities

The French-Italian joint venture Thales Alenia Space has noted that the test center has been built by Turkish firms. This facility will also be the firm's first ever integration and test center turnkey project. TUSAŞ Aerospace Industries Inc. will be in charge of the facility's coordination.

This is a translation of an article originally written by Kerim Ülker.