The country’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, praised the successful launch.

I congratulate our young people, teachers and institutions that carried out this project, the first of its kind for Turkey, said the president.

The device, named Grizu-263A, was designed by students from Bulent Ecevit University, located in the northwestern city of Zonguldak, and was launched from Cape Canaveral in the U.S. state of Florida.

Its objective is to work on space and satellite technologies and to participate in international competitions in this regard, according to Ankara.

It will operate in a low Earth orbit of approximately 525 kilometers for four years and eight months.

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