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.

This launch will be the eighth Vega lightweight launcher to leave Arianespace's Spaceport. The Vega Flight VV08 has been 'topped off' and is ready for its payload, Turkey's GÖKTÜRK-1 optical satellite that will be Turkey’s first governmental satellite for Earth observation, providing very high-resolution images for both civilian and military applications. The launch is scheduled for December 5 and the mission should last two hours.

GÖKTÜRK-1 has been built as Turkey’s first governmental satellite for Earth observation, providing very high-resolution images for both civilian and military applications.

Telespazio is the prime contractor of the GÖKTÜRK-1 program under terms of an agreement signed with the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) of Turkey.  SSM is the 55th operator to select Arianespace for the launch of its initial 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.

Liftoff of Vega from the Spaceport’s SLV launch site is set at 10:51:44 a.m., local time in French Guiana on December 5 (13:51:44, Universal Time), with the launcher carrying a total payload of approximately 1,140 kg.

Vega was developed in a European Space Agency (ESA) program jointly funded by Italy, France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Sweden. Design authority and industrial prime contractor for the launch vehicle is Italy’s Avio, operating through its Italian subsidiary ELV (in which the Italian space agency ASI has a 30 percent stake).

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