Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank examined IMECE, Turkey's first domestic and national observation satellite with sub-meter resolution. Explaining the space travel calendar that IMECE will start on January 15, 2023, Minister Varank said, “This satellite will be shut down soon, will enter its final tests and will be sent to the USA for launch. It will be ready to launch by November.” said. Expressing that the export value of IMECE's camera is 86 thousand Euros per kilogram, Varank said, "We will develop Turkey with value-added production." he said.
After President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Statement to the Nation speech by IMECE, which announced that space travel would begin on January 15, Minister Varank visited the Space Systems Integration and Test Center USET. Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. During the visit to USET, which is located in (TUSAŞ) Akıncı Facilities, Minister Varank was accompanied by TÜBİTAK President Hasan Mandal and TÜBİTAK UZAY Institute Director Mesut Gökten.
Minister Varank examined İMECE and TÜRKSAT 6A, developed by TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute (UZAY) with domestic and national resources. Varank, who made evaluations about the launch calendar of IMECE after his examinations, said the following in summary:
THE CAMERA IS ALSO LOCAL
We are now in front of the İMECE observation satellite, which our President announced that it will be launched into space on January 15, 2023. The IMECE observation satellite is our domestic and national observation satellite designed, developed and produced by our own engineers and technicians, which will serve at 680 kilometers and meet Turkey's high resolution image needs. Of course, the most important feature of this satellite is that the camera you see in the middle was produced by us at the OPMER Optical Research Center, which was also opened by our President.
USA PASSENGER
Soon this satellite will be shut down, undergo final tests and will be sent to the USA for launch. Hopefully, on January 15, 2023, we will have launched our own domestic and national observation satellite into space. Turkey is a country with important capabilities in the field of space, especially in terms of satellite development, together with TÜBİTAK UZAY. Our domestic and national communication, domestic and national observation satellites are also projects initiated to carry these capabilities to the next level.
DOMESTIC AND NATIONAL COMPONENT
Here we see the domestic and national components used in our IMECE satellite. Designing a satellite is important. But developing the components and products that you use in this, both locally and nationally, are actually works that add value to that satellite. All these components in this satellite you see, from star trails to response monopoly, x band transmitter, electric propulsion engine, flight computer and most importantly camera, all products were developed and produced locally and nationally and will be used in space with this satellite.
THERE IS EXPORT POTENTIAL
Observing from space and meeting the need for images are closely related to the national security strategies of countries, but I leave that aside. All the components you have developed here actually have an export potential. There are countries that want to order the camera we use on the IMECE satellite from abroad. There are countries that want to make satellites similar to this satellite with us and even order ready-made ones. In fact, we also signed a preliminary agreement regarding the sale of cameras. But when they materialize, we will announce them to the public.
WE WILL ACTION WITH SYNERGY
We are trying to develop our domestic and national satellite capabilities with the participation of all companies in Turkey. In this sense, we have set a goal in our National Space Program to activate all these activities with synergy. We will continue to realize the targets set by our National Space Program together with all the capabilities in Turkey, but together with TÜBİTAK UZAY and the affiliated and related organizations of our ministry. We will develop Turkey economically with value-added production.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE INTERESTED IN SPACE
I would like to give the following example; Turkey's export value per kilogram is around 1,5 dollars, but when you produce and sell such a camera, you have the chance to reach 86 thousand euros per kilogram. Where's the $1 and a half? Where is the 86 thousand euros? We show this example to those who ask why you are interested in space. We meet our own security needs by making both our domestic and national high-resolution satellites, but when we sell the capabilities, engineering and products we have acquired here, we can generate a huge export income. That's why we will continue to be interested in space and closely follow the National Space Program.
WILL BE READY IN NOVEMBER
At the moment, the work of the satellite to be sent into space continues. We know that this month, the hatches here are closed, the satellite is assembled and will undergo a series of tests along with environmental tests. Hopefully it will be ready to launch by November. It will be launched into space from the United States in January.
WE WILL IMAGE WITHIN 48 HOURS
Together with IMECE, Turkey will have an Electro-Optical satellite camera with sub-meter resolution for the first time. IMECE, which will meet Turkey's high-resolution image needs with domestic resources, will display images within 15 hours after the launch on January 48th.
EQUIPPED WITH EXPERIENCE
Observation satellite IMECE; BİLSAT was equipped with the experience gained from RASAT and GÖKTÜRK-2 satellites. The design, production, assembly, integration and tests, ground station antenna and software of IMECE, which will operate in a simultaneous orbit with the sun at an altitude of 680 kilometers, were developed with domestic means.
TUBITAK IMECE
TÜBİTAK National Metrology Institute (UME) contributed to the equipment developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY with Magnetometer and Magnetic Torque Bar, and TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center (MAM) with Fixed Solar Panel.
MULTI-PURPOSE MISSION
IMECE, which will obtain high-resolution images from all over the world without geographical restrictions, will serve Turkey in many areas such as detection and diagnosis, natural disasters, mapping, agricultural applications. The design duty life of the satellite, which can be used for civil and security purposes, is planned as 5 years.
TRAINED MAN POWER
The experience to be gained from IMECE will form the infrastructure for the satellites that Turkey will develop in the future. On the one hand, Turkey will have such critical technologies, on the other hand, it will gain the manpower and knowledge trained in the field of space.
COMPONENTS DEVELOPED WITH IMECE
Components developed with IMECE are as follows: KKS Receiver, Sun Detector, Starizler, Response Wheel, Response Wheel Interface Equipment, Electro-Optical Camera, X Band Transmitter Steerable Antenna, S Band Antennas, Data Compression Record Formatting Equipment, S Band Transceiver, Electric Thrust Engine and Fuel Supply Equipment and X Band Transmitter.
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