Turkey’s first domestic and national high-definition imaging satellite IMECE, whose launch into space was canceled due to weather conditions in the past days, is planned to be launched into space today.
Funded by TUBITAK and Presidency Strategy Budget Department; IMECE, Turkey’s first domestic and national high-resolution imaging satellite, designed and developed by TUBITAK UZAY, whose client institution is the Presidency of Defense Industries, and the end user of the Air Force Command, is planned to be launched into space today.
After two delays, IMECE is expected to be launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in the United States at 09:48 Turkey time today.
IMECE, which will be in a simultaneous orbit with the Sun at an altitude of 680 kilometers, during its design mission life of 5 years; It will serve our country in many areas such as target identification, detection, natural disaster, agricultural applications. The satellite will be able to obtain images from anywhere in the world.
The imaging satellite AKUP, also developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY together with IMECE, the imaging satellite KILIÇSAT produced by the cooperation of ASELSAN and GÜMÜŞ, and the internet of things and imaging satellite CONNECTA T2.1 cube satellites produced by PLAN-S company will be launched into space in the same rocket.
SUB-METER RESOLUTION CAMERA
IMECE, the earth observation satellite developed with national means; BİLSAT was equipped with the experience gained from RASAT and GÖKTÜRK-2 satellites. The electro-optical satellite camera with sub-meter resolution, produced for the first time in Turkey, was developed by TUBITAK UZAY and integrated into IMECE. Thanks to this technologically critical camera, Turkey’s need for high resolution satellite imagery will be met with domestic resources.
DEVELOPED WITH IMECE
In addition to the electro-optical camera, flight computer, electric propulsion, orientation and trajectory determination, power and communication subsystems were designed and manufactured by TÜBİTAK UZAY at IMECE. Within the framework of the IMECE Project, especially flight computer software, orientation and trajectory software, analysis software, ground station software were developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY engineers. TÜBİTAK UME’s magnetometer and magnetic torque rod and TÜBİTAK MAM’s fixed solar panel contributed to the IMECE Satellite.
EXPORT POTENTIAL
The outputs obtained from the IMECE Project will form the building blocks of the new satellites that Turkey will have in the future. With this project, in addition to the critical SPACE technologies, it will also provide the acquired manpower and knowledge in this field. With the space history of the equipment produced within the framework of the project, Turkey will gain the potential to export systems with high added value.
FLY TO THE USA IN FEBRUARY
Having successfully passed thermal vacuum, vibration, acoustic and electromagnetic compatibility tests since June 2022, the IMECE Satellite was sent to the USA, where the launch base is located, in February.
