Göktürk-1
The Göktürk-1 programme has led to the construction by Telespazio (prime contractor) and Thales Alenia Space, for the Turkish Ministry of Defence (SSM, Savunma Sanayii Müsteşarlığı), of a satellite for Earth observation with a high-resolution optical sensor, a satellite integration and test centre in Ankara (inaugurated in 2015), and the complete ground segment, which is in charge of mission control, in-orbit operation, data acquisition and processing.

Local industrial partners include TAI A.S., Aselsan A.S., Tubitak BILGEM, Roketsan A.S.. The Turkish industry has been involved in the system design and development, as well as in the supply of certain Göktürk-1 system components. Turkish industry was involved in the design and development phase of the system and in the supply of certain subsystems.

In particular, local partners contribute to the creation of the Data Acquisition Station, the Satellite Integration Centre, and the acquisition programming systems for processing and storing the images.The European Space Agency’s VEGA launcher, built in Italy by ELV, formed by AVIO (70%) and the Italian Space Agency (30%), was selected for the launch of GÖKTÜRK-1. The satellite was launched on 5 December 2016 by Arianespace from the European spaceport in Kourou, in French Guiana.

Telespazio’s role

As prime contractor and system integrator, Telespazio has been responsible for the entire ground segment, both fixed and mobile, which will provide the in-orbit management, and the data acquisition and processing. Telespazio is also responsible for the launch services, early orbit phase, and testing of the satellite.

A joint venture with local partners will be established to develop and market GÖKTÜRK-1 data and application services. Turkish industry was involved in the design and development phase of the system and in the supply of certain subsystems. In particular, local partners contribute to the creation of the Data Acquisition Station, the Satellite Integration Centre, and the acquisition programming systems for processing and storing the images.

Thales Alenia Space’s role

Thales Alenia Space has built the satellite and has developed the integration and test center in Turkey, an infrastructure designed to simultaneously integrate different satellites.

Derived from the Proteus platform developed by Thales Alenia Space, the Göktürk-1 satellite includes a high-resolution optical instrument, which is the result of the company's strong experience in this field. The satellite has a dry weight of about 1,000 kg and a design life of seven years.

GOKTURK (PDF, 481 KB)