Turkey launched its first domestically produced communications satellite, Turksat 6A, into orbit early on Tuesday. Ankara said the move would widen the country's satellite coverage and meet its television broadcasting needs.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carried the satellite into space from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the launch marked the opening of a "new phase" for Turkey in satellite production.