GÖKTÜRK-1 is the first Turkish governmental satellite for Earth observation. It also is the sixth satellite to be launched by Arianespace for Turkey, following five Türksat-series telecommunications spacecraft from 1994 to 2008.

GÖKTÜRK-1 is a very high-resolution optical Earth observation satellite.

Its images are intended for civilian and military applications. The satellite will be injected in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 700 km. GÖKTÜRK-1 is capable of imaging the entire globe in 72 hours.

Telespazio – as prime contractor of the GÖKTÜRK-1 program under terms of a 2009 agree-ment signed with the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries of Turkey in Ankara (SSM) – is responsible for the satellite’s integration and the associated ground segment.

SSM is the 55th operator to select Arianespace for the launch of its first satellite.

Thales Alenia Space and its Turkish partners – including the companies TAI A.S., Aselsan A.S., Tubitak Bilgem, Roketsan A.S. and TR Tecnoloji – built GÖKTÜRK-1 based on the PROTEUS spacecraft platform.

GÖKTÜRK-1 will be 145th Thales Alenia Space-produced satellite launched by Arianespace.

Eleven other satellites from this spacecraft manufacturer are in Arianespace’s launch services order book: SENTINEL-2B, SGDC, TELKOM-3S, KOREASAT-7, COMSAT NG 1, four satellites for O3b, along with two “undisclosed” payloads.