Overview
ASELSAN is a Turkish defence and technology company that has expanded into space-based IoT with the launch of its LUNA-1 satellite. The mission represents ASELSAN’s entry into low Earth orbit IoT connectivity, targeting global data collection and sensor communications outside the reach of terrestrial networks.
LUNA-1 was fully designed, manufactured, integrated and tested by ASELSAN engineers, reflecting a vertically integrated approach to satellite development.
Technology
LUNA-1 operates in low Earth orbit and is designed to support narrowband IoT communications using low-power radio links. Publicly available observations from satellite tracking networks indicate a UHF downlink around 402 MHz using GMSK modulation at approximately 9.6 kbps, consistent with many small-satellite and satellite-IoT architectures.
The satellite is also reported to include S-band radio hardware, though the specific operational role of this band has not been disclosed in public technical documentation.
The system is optimised for telemetry-style communications, prioritising reliability, simplicity and power efficiency over data throughput.
Coverage
Operating from a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit, LUNA-1 is designed to provide global coverage over time, enabling periodic connectivity for IoT devices deployed in remote, maritime or infrastructure-poor regions.
Coverage density and messaging cadence are constrained by constellation size, with LUNA-1 currently operating as a single-satellite mission.
Service Characteristics
ASELSAN’s satellite IoT capability is intended to support low-power sensors and remote data collection applications. Typical data flows involve small payloads such as environmental measurements, asset status updates or system telemetry, rather than real-time or broadband communications.
The system is positioned to complement, rather than replace, terrestrial IoT networks where coverage exists.
Target Markets and Use Cases
Public statements indicate a focus on use cases including:
- Environmental and climate monitoring
- Remote asset and infrastructure monitoring
- Logistics and asset tracking
- Industrial and strategic IoT deployments
- Applications requiring connectivity beyond terrestrial network reach
Given ASELSAN’s background, applications with higher reliability, sovereignty or institutional requirements are likely to be a focus.
Position in the Satellite IoT Ecosystem
ASELSAN’s LUNA-1 places the company among a growing set of organisations developing sovereign or vertically integrated satellite IoT capabilities. While not yet operating a full constellation, LUNA-1 demonstrates a technically conventional but credible narrowband satellite IoT architecture aligned with wider industry practice.