ISTANBUL -- Türkiye's first domestic communication satellite has successfully reached its orbit, marking a significant milestone in the country's space program, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said on Saturday.

Türksat 6A has reached its 42-degree east orbit, the minister confirmed on the social media platform X.

"Our national pride will elevate Türkiye to an international player in space activities and strengthen our communication infrastructure," he said.

According to local media, the satellite reached its final "geosynchronous orbit" at 35,786 km following a final ignition at 5 am local time (0200 GMT).

After undergoing additional testing in orbit, Türksat 6A is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2025.

Launched from SpaceX's Cape Canaveral facility in Florida on July 9, Türksat 6A is hailed as a major achievement for Türkiye's space program.