Arianespace and Telespazio used the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget to announce the launch contract of the Göktürk-1 satellite which is being built for the Turkish government. The launch contract was signed with Telespazio, which is building the satellite under a delivery-to-orbit contract.
Telespazio is the prime contractor for the Göktürk-1 high-resolution observation system, while Thales Alenia Space is providing the space segment. Weighing 1100 kg at launch, the Göktürk-1 satellite will be launched by Arianespace’s Vega light launcher into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 700 km. It will be launched from the Guiana Space Center, French Guiana, in 2015.
The Göktürk-1 system will provide very-high-quality panchromatic and multispectral products for a wide range of applications, including cadastral surveys, management of natural resources, environmental monitoring and homeland surveillance.
