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Maybe the government see's a different Somalia, but I wouldnt invest potentially hundreds of millions of € and in very important infrastructure in a country that is barely stable. If it was an Island of the coast, maybe but not like this.
 

Nilgiri

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I believe Turkey microsat launch facility is in Turkey....and is being started/planned now. Is that correct?
 

Zafer

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I believe Turkey microsat launch facility is in Turkey....and is being started/planned now. Is that correct?
There isn't news about it but yes it will be in Turkey. There already is a launchpad on the northernmost tip of mainland Turkey, in the city of Sinop. Rockets that have reached up to an altitude of 136km have already be launched from there but up to what size rockets can be launched is still a mystery. Another possible location is at Datça the southwestern tip of the country.
 
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Zafer

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Maybe the government see's a different Somalia, but I wouldnt invest potentially hundreds of millions of € and in very important infrastructure in a country that is barely stable. If it was an Island of the coast, maybe but not like this.
A location at the ocean coast is as good as an island for protection. A shipping port, a navy base, an airport and a space port can be established in a reserved area. Equatorial areas of Somalia seems to be scarcely populated. I am all for a mobile shipborne launchpad for the best flexibility. Perhaps portions of the system can be shipborne like the fueling and parts production.

Somalia is the best location that will yield the lowest operational cost once investment is made to ensure security.
 

Nilgiri

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There isn't news about it but yes it will be in Turkey. There already is a launchpad on the northernmost tip of mainland Turkey, in the city of Sinop. Rockets that have reached up to an altitude of 136km have already be launched from there but up to what size rockets can be launched is still a mystery. Another possible location is at Darça the southwestern tip of the country.

If its Sinop that will be it..... it (max size) can be calculated fairly easy when I get some time later....as you simply look at the range available for 1st stage debris and backwork to get its rough largest size.

i.e sinop to georgian coast roughly would be the distance to calculate from that sets bound for 1st stage.

Thats why earlier I proposed thrace, it will give a larger size/scope for largest rocket turkey can launch (at least due east wise)

Darca (close to area I proposed too) can be developed for 2nd site, especially for polar orbit, since those benefit from due south launch.

Here is my earlier post for readers:


Map ref:

1613701811791.png
 

Nilgiri

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A location at the ocean coast is as good as an island for protection. A shipping port, a navy base, an airport and a space port can be established in a reserved area. Equatorial areas of Somalia seems to be scarcely populated. I am all for a mobile shipborne launchpad for the best flexibility. Perhaps portions of the system can be shipborne like the fueling and parts production.

Somalia is the best location that will yield the lowest operational cost once investment is made to ensure security.

It would be best to develop any logistics like what EU/France done with French Guiana. Roll-on roll -off ships:


Then you got to do assembly in situ in vertical-assembly area, then move final-vehicle to launch-pad and you launch there.

Launching from a ship presents major difficulties w.r.t stabilisation + strength of launchpad needed. Indian Navy for example for open-deck-based prithvi BM (since canisterisation/VLS was not found economical for the ships in question for BM this size) launch had to develop a pretty intricate stabilised platform just for that size...it was far from ideal too.

That's why sea launch had a very large ocean rig platform for the launch itself (next to a CnC ship etc)....for a lot bigger rocket:

1613702479095.png
 

Zafer

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If its Sinop that will be it..... it (max size) can be calculated fairly easy when I get some time later....as you simply look at the range available for 1st stage debris and backwork to get its rough largest size.

i.e sinop to georgian coast roughly would be the distance to calculate from that sets bound for 1st stage.

Thats why earlier I proposed thrace, it will give a larger size/scope for largest rocket turkey can launch (at least due east wise)

Darca (close to area I proposed too) can be developed for 2nd site, especially for polar orbit, since those benefit from due south launch.

Here is my earlier post for readers:


Map ref:

View attachment 14521
You need to mind the second stage too, these two locations were chosen with that in mind.
 

Nilgiri

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You need to mind the second stage too, these two locations were chosen with that in mind.

2nd stage wont be so much issue with this sized launcher....it can be designed to do re-entry with burn up in atmosphere. A retro burner can change the re-entry angle if needed.

Turkey can model and do that, likely already has....its no problem. 1st stage is really the survivable thing of largest risk in general.
 

Zafer

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It would be best to develop any logistics like what EU/France done with French Guiana. Roll-on roll -off ships:


Then you got to do assembly in situ in vertical-assembly area, then move final-vehicle to launch-pad and you launch there.

Launching from a ship presents major difficulties w.r.t stabilisation + strength of launchpad needed. Indian Navy for example for open-deck-based prithvi BM (since canisterisation/VLS was not found economical for the ships in question for BM this size) launch had to develop a pretty intricate stabilised platform just for that size...it was far from ideal too.

That's why sea launch had a very large ocean rig platform for the launch itself (next to a CnC ship etc)....for a lot bigger rocket:

View attachment 14522
A roll on roll off system is probably the most cost effective option which can minimize the security risk too. Depending on the busyness of activity and other factors a floating option or a full blown land base can be viable. But the stated $350mn cost estimate for the spaceport probably probably says something for what is in the minds of the officials.
 
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ekemenirtu

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Turkey is constrained in such endeavour by geography somewhat, but here are two sites I think will be good for mid-sized future launch as the launch bearing window is goverened by:

- As close to east as possible (for maximum velocity imparted by earth rotation)

Equatorial rocket launch is not affected much by the longitude of the launch site, rather by the latitude of the launch site and the direction in which the rocket is launched.

Launching a rocket eastwards will help impart greater velocity to the rocket, I believe.


Purely due south launch can be looked at for 2nd site too, if Turkey wants to do polar inclination only.

I am not aware of any benefits or penalties from a strictly southwards launch of a rocket on a polar orbit.

Could you explain what are the nonpolitical benefits, or penalties, for a rocket launched southwards on a polar orbit?
 

Nilgiri

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Equatorial rocket launch is not affected much by the longitude of the launch site, rather by the latitude of the launch site and the direction in which the rocket is launched.

Yeah I didn't word that well. It was referring as far as possible close to due-east (bearing/azimuth) launch....rather than longitude position.



Launching a rocket eastwards will help impart greater velocity to the rocket, I believe.

Yep, correct. Effectively the same amount of fuel burned in the launcher gets you a higher speed given the velocity of earths rotation (the worst direction would be due west in which case you need to overcome the "counter" velocity from the get go).

That is a large benefit to that.

Also if you plan to have your final orbit inclination close to 0...it is beneficial too (in fact often much larger benefit than the velocity imparted by due east launch)....as the inclination change you need to affect upon the satellite is lowered (thus lowering fuel you need to launch with the satellite)....as the (starting) inclination will simply be whatever your launch latitude is...rather than have more added to it by an initial bearing that is not due east.

This is especially a factor in geostationary-birds which have lot more to do (to get to geo-orbit) once inserted into LEO or their initial elliptical orbit, and are generally quite large/massive satellites too...and thus it is very optimal if you don't have to worry about changing inclination much and minimize your fuel budget.


I am not aware of any benefits or penalties from a strictly southwards launch of a rocket on a polar orbit.

Could you explain what are the nonpolitical benefits, or penalties, for a rocket launched southwards on a polar orbit?

Yes same reason as above, if the final desired inclination is 90 degrees (a polar orbit, eg. a sun synchronous one)....launching due south (or due north) is optimal as no large inclination change is needed after LEO or elliptical orbit achieved.
 

Combat-Master

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Closed tube winding in 4 Axis Filamen Winding Machine designed and produced by Fibermak
Er8O2BaXAAMZBRn.jpg

The winding method used in rocket fuel tanks, providing advantages in terms of lightness and strength.
Er8O1mLXAAApPRe.jpg
 

Nilgiri

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If somalia is problem, maybe turkey can look at places like Kenya, Madagascar or Indonesia too.

Indonesia can even be a joint project.
 

Zafer

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I think I have spotted the perfect location in Somalia to set up a spaceport. It is in the southern regions and in the central government controlled area albeit Eş Şebap region is not too far away. With some support to better ensure security all should be good.

Port.png


8.5 km from the airport, 8 km from the city and 2.5 km off the shore.
A 400m by 600m clean stretch of land.
The red square is 100 by 100 meters.
Supplies can be shipped to this location before launch and the rocket can be assembled in place.

If it turns out that this spot is too close to the city there is another place 20 km further south.

@Nilgiri @adenl
 
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Zafer

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Our LST ships TCG Bayraktar and TCG Sancaktar seem to be very suitable to carry out operations regarding the delivery of parts and personnel and possibly fuel to the spaceport.


Also a second hand ship can be bought and re-purposed as a launchpad if it is deemed suitable.
 

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