Göktürk-II was sent off to China from TAI Premises
The standby contract of Göktürk-II project, which is a scientific research and technology satellite development project to provide 2,5 m resolution imaging, was signed between the Ministry of National Defence, TÜBİTAK and TÜBİTAK Space Technologies – TAI Partnership on 13 April 2007 and enacted on 1 may 2007. The aim of the project is to meet the space imaging needs of TAF as well as observation and research needs of other public organizations and institutions. TÜBİTAK Space Technologies and TAI engineers successfully completed Göktürk-II satellite with national capabilities and resources after a 5 year study within the scope of the project and made it ready to launch.
A ceremony was held at TAI premises for sending-off Göktürk-II to China before its launch and Minister of National Defence İsmet Yılmaz, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Nihat Ergün, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar, TAI Chairman of the Board Yalçın Kaya, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Yücel Altunbaşak, TAI President and CEO Muharrem Dörtkaşlı, TÜBİTAK Space Technologies officials, SSM officials, Commanders from Air Forces, project staff and press agents participated in the ceremony.
Minister Ergün: Our goal is to launch our own satellite by ourselves
In his speech at the ceremony, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Nihat Ergün stated that Turkey has been progressing with superior goals and has significant developments at each field like Göktürk-II Project. "The hidden energy existing at our country and our nation has revealed" said Minister Ergün and added that Turkey will see much better days in the near future.
Ergün also stated that significant projects regarding communication satellites will also be activated in the near future as it is for the ground observation satellites and said: "Turkey shall become one of the countries in the world within 10 years, not only manufacturing its own satellites but also launching satellites by itself. We will be manufacturing and launching satellites by ourselves and for other countries as well. The steps we have taken especially on defence technologies during the recent 10 years are undoubtedly remarkable and satisfying. Turkey is now capable of manufacturing its own tanks, infantry rifles, guns, missiles, UAVs and satellites."
Minister of National Defence Yılmaz: "Turkey is now at Space League"
İsmet Yılmaz, Minister of National Defence, stated that Turkey leaped into "space league" with its successful projects and remarked that the countries dealing more with space are the most developed countries. "The increasing competition between countries such as USA, China and India has resulted in the creation of a "space league". Turkey has leaped into this league based on recent and future studies. Today, having national space systems and technologies is a prerequisite for national security and of critical importance. Through the utilization of space technologies, several studies in many fields can be performed such as the mitigation of disaster damages, risk assessment, visual information support for crisis management after natural disaster, support for agricultural activities, product harvesting determination, biomass determination, control of forest lands and water basins, infrastructure planning, city development planning, topographic map generation, mapping and planning of transportation network, onshore and offshore explorations/surveys, environmental monitoring and pollution analysis, support for the exploration/determination activities on water and natural resources, determination of non-renewable resources and soil exploration.
TÜBİTAK President Altunbaşak: "Turkey Started its Space Adventure in 2001"
TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Yücel Altunbaşak stated that the successful projects in recent years opened a new era in space technology field and added that Göktürk-II satellite will be launched into space in December if everything is on the rails. Altunbaşak reminded that TÜBİTAK initiated Turkey’s space studies in 2001 and Turkey launched its first satellite within two years shortly after such studies. Altunbaşak also stated that this satellite rendered services to Turkey for 3 years, then national satellite production was initiated with the experienced gained during this process and as a result RASAT satellite was launched in August 2011. "Today 7,5 m resolution imaging is received from RASAT and Turkey’s 2D image map is about to be completed through these imaging. Such images will be opened the use of public institutions, universities and Turkish Armed Forces in December." Said Altunbaşak.
"Göktürk-II satellite was completed within the planned time frame by TÜBİTAK Space Technologies and TAI and our goal in the ground observation satellite production is to reach higher sensitivity as metre or below metre, where it is now at 15 metres and to increase the local share by producing critical components like cameras, reaction wheels and sun detectors with local means where it is now 80%" said Altunbaşak and added that this project is very successful considering Turkey’s 10-year adventure in space technologies. "It is not that easy to access qualified man power and infrastructure in space field requiring advanced technology. Besides it requires long period of time and higher costs. Turkey has solved its ground observation satellite problem" said Altunbaşak.
Dörtkaşlı: "We Should Initiate New Satellite Projects without Losing Time"
TAI President and CEO Muharrem Dörtkaşlı stated that the design, production, installation and test phases of Göktürk-II project, initiated in May 2007, were successfully completed. Dörtkaşlı also said that the aim of the project is not only to meet the space imaging needs of TAF as well as observation and research needs of other public organizations and institutions but also enjoy the opportunities to develop technology, qualified man power and infrastructure in space field. "It is important to initiate new satellite projects in order not to lose such experiences and know-how gained." said Dörtkaşlı. Dörtkaşlı also stated that the design, production, installation, integration, functional tests, thermal-vacuum cycling test electromagnetic interference and adaptation tests and acoustic vibration tests were successfully performed by TÜBİTAK Space Technologies and TAI partnership.
Following the speeches, a certificate for closure for Göktürk-II satellite prior to its send-off to China was signed with the participation of Minister of National Defence İsmet Yılmaz, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Nihat Ergün, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar, TAI Chairman of the Board Yalçın Kaya, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Yücel Altunbaşak, TAI President and CEO Muharrem Dörtkaşlı and Undersecretary of National Defence Ministry Mustafa Avcı. After presenting plaques to those who contributed to the Project, Minister Ergün and Minister Yılmaz entered the "Clean Room" and examined the satellite.
