Göktürk-1

Göktürk-1

Model of Göktürk-1 displayed at the stand of TAI during the IDEF'15
Mission type Earth observation
Operator Turkish Ministry of National Defence
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer Telespazio
Thales Alenia Space
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ)
Start of mission
Launch date 05 December 2016[1]
Rocket Vega
Launch site Kourou ELV
Contractor Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Sun-synchronous
Epoch Planned

Göktürk-1 is a high resolution earth observation satellite (greater than 50 cm) designed and developed for the Turkish Ministry of National Defence by the Italian space service company Telespazio with technological input from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) and Aselsan of Turkey.[2]

The agreement to build Göktürk-1 was signed on July 13, 2009 between the Ministry of National Defence and Telespazio, a Finmeccanica/Thales Group joint venture company, taking effect on July 19, 2009. Thales Alenia Space is in charge of supplying the satellite bus. Within the framework of the project, a facility for assembly, integration and testing of spacecraft (UMET) up to 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) mass will be established in Turkey, which is considered as a critical infrastructure. The project is valued at more than € 250m.[3][4]

The satellite with 0.80 m (2 ft 7 in) resolution is intended for use of reconnaissance over any location on earth without geographical restriction. Additionally, it will carry out various civil applications on mapping and planning, landcover survey, geology, ecosystem monitoring, disaster management, environmental control, coastal zone management, and water resources.[3][4]

Dispute with Israel

Israel started a pressure campaign on the French company Thales Group, which is one of the shareholder of Telespazio. Israel expressed its fear that high resolution imagery taken by Göktürk-1 from its territory could eventually fall into the wrong hands. Israel, which supplies some of the critical electro-optical parts of the satellite's high-technology camera system to Thales Group, stipulated that Göktürk-1 should be made incapable of taking imagery as long as it is over Israel.[5]

Turkey, after having received such information, demanded from the contractor Thales Group that it has to prove the satellite can take imagery from any location desired. The French producer rejected this demand in the beginning, retreated however later on as the Turkish side responded with stopping of payments.[5]

Turkish bureaucrats requested further the launching of the satellite by an experienced and well-known space company. The French side on the other hand insists on commissioning a not much experienced satellite launch company in order to cut cost.[5]

Launch

After numerous delays due to political and business disputes, the satellite launched from the Guiana Space Center at 13:51:44 UTC, on 5 December 2016 on a Vega rocket.[1]

Göktürk-2, another earth observation satellite of the Göktürk series (however with lower resolution compared to Göktürk-1) was successfully placed in orbit on December 18, 2012, and is currently transmitting imagery.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Arianespace’s Vega scores its eighth success in orbiting GÖKTÜRK-1 for Turkey". Arianespace. Retrieved 2016-12-05.
  2. ↑ http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/air-space/space/2015/06/21/turkey-space-programs-gokturk-turksat-satellite-tusas-tai-telespazio/28872359/
  3. 1 2 "Göktürk-1" (in Turkish). TAI. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  4. 1 2 "Göktürk 1". Gunter Space Page. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  5. 1 2 3 Soncan, Emre (2012-12-27). "Ankara-Paris arasında 'Göktürk-1 savaşı'". Zaman (in Turkish). Retrieved 2013-01-27.
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