A Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Turksat 5A satellite lifted off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, the United States.

Turksat 5A is one of two satellites that SpaceX is contracted to launch on behalf of Turkey.

Turkey aims to increase its presence in space and will help provide communications capabilities to customers across Turkey, the Middle East, Europe, and portions of Africa.

Türksat 5A, is a Turkish communications satellite, operated by Türksat A.Ş. for commercial and military purposes.

According to an agreement signed in September 2011, the satellite will be developed by specialists in cooperation with Türksat and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

It will be produced in Turkey by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) at its newly established Satellite Assembly Integration and Test Facility in Ankara with 20% indigenously developed technology.

Türksat 5A has been the first geostationary communications satellite to be built in Turkey. (ILKHA)