Launched Tuesday Morning From French Guiana

The Vega lightweight launcher continued its track record of success today, lofting the GÖKTÜRK-1 Earth observation spacecraft from the Spaceport on a mission that adds another operator to those entrusting their initial payloads for launch by Arianespace.

Departing from the French Guiana launch site at the exact liftoff time of 10:51:44 a.m. local time Tuesday, Vega delivered the GÖKTÜRK-1 into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 435 miles.

During the initial phase of the mission – designated Flight VV08 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system – Vega was powered by its three solid propellant stages, followed by two burns of the bi-propellant upper stage, leading to separation of GÖKTÜRK-1 at just over 57 minutes after liftoff.

GÖKTÜRK-1 is Turkey’s first governmental satellite for Earth observation, designed to provide very high-resolution images for civilian and military applications. Telespazio is prime contractor for the GÖKTÜRK-1 program, working under terms of an agreement with the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM).

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.

(Source: Arianespace news release)

FMI: www.arianespace.com