The eighth edition of the Model Satellite Competition, organised by Türksat and the Technology Team Foundation of Turkey for university and graduate students, was held on 25-27 April at Aksaray Hisar Rocket Launch Area. This year, the CERVOS 7B team from Hacettepe University won the first place in the Model Satellite Competition, while the Yomra Youth Centre Space Club from Karadeniz Technical University took the second place and the TAU-SAT team from Turkish-German University took the third place.
Ömer Fatih Sayan, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Ali Taha Koç, Head of the Digital Transformation Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Yüksek, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Türksat, and Hasan Hüseyin Ertok, General Manager, participated in the final stage of the competition for the model satellites designed locally and nationally by university students.
In the competition where 15 teams made it to the finals, model satellites were sent by rockets. During the competition, new missions were added this year to the model satellites that fulfilled many tasks after launch.
In this year's competitions, the tasks of the competitors included the separation of the model satellites from the carrier and the image transfer of the satellite. In addition, telemetry data and image data received from eight sensors during the landing of the model satellites were instantly transferred to the ground station. These data were also graphically visualised on the command and control computer interface.
"Interest in the competition is increasing every year"
Ali Taha Koç, President of the Digital Transformation Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, stated that the interest in the competition has increased every year, and drew attention to the fact that university students designed and produced a satellite from scratch through the programme. Reminding that many contestant teams have established their own companies thanks to the Türksat Model Satellite Competition, Koç said, "In fact, one of our teams competing here currently has a real satellite in space."
Kemal Yüksek, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Türksat AŞ, stated that they organised the competition with great excitement and said, "Every year, the competition tasks become more and more difficult. It continues with the same excitement by our young people. This competition, which is of great importance for the construction of Great Turkey, brings together both theory and practice in the same place."
Hasan Hüseyin Ertok, General Manager of Türksat AŞ, emphasised that the competition has grown every year and has become an international competition. Pointing out that there will be even more international participation next year, Ertok said, "With the Model Satellite Competition, our young people have the opportunity to experience all aspects of a satellite project, from designing and designing to production and post-mission review. As Türksat, we know that the most important investment that can be made for the future of our country is the investment in our youth, and with this in mind, we attach great importance to this competition."