İMECE Satellite

İMECE is Türkiye’s first domestically developed Earth observation satellite with sub-meter resolution, utilizing national capabilities. The project was undertaken to design, manufacture, and test satellite subsystems—including a high-resolution electro-optic satellite camera—entirely within Türkiye.

Developed by TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute, the satellite was implemented under the coordination of the Ministry of National Defense and the Presidency of Defense Industries, with support from the Presidency of Strategy and Budget and TÜBİTAK’s 1007 Program.

With a mass of approximately 700 kilograms, İMECE was designed to meet Türkiye’s demand for high-resolution satellite imagery, capture images from anywhere on Earth without geographical constraints, and advance indigenous space technologies for both civil and military applications. On 22 May 2025, it was officially incorporated into the inventory of the Air Forces Command under the name "GÖKTÜRK-2B".

İMECE (TÜBİTAK Space)

Project Goal and Objective

The primary goal of the İMECE Project is to develop subsystems, equipment, and software for Earth observation satellites using Türkiye’s national capabilities. The project aims to produce locally critical components such as the electro-optic satellite camera, power control and distribution systems, star trackers, sun sensors, reaction wheels, electric propulsion systems, flight computers, and X-band and S-band communication systems.

Accordingly, the project seeks to establish the necessary infrastructure to reduce dependence on foreign technologies in space systems, enhance national production capacity, and develop high-resolution Earth observation satellites. Additionally, the project aims to acquire imagery for defense, disaster management, agriculture, mapping, and environmental monitoring using national resources.

History and Development Process

The İMECE Project was initiated in 2013 by TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute. It was built upon the technical expertise gained from Türkiye’s first indigenous Earth observation satellites: BİLSAT, RASAT, and GÖKTÜRK-2. In 2017, equipment manufacturing accelerated, and in 2020, the assembly and integration of the Thermal Structural Qualification Model were completed.

In 2022, the flight model entered the testing phase and was sent to Vandenberg Space Force Base in the United States in February 2023. It was launched on 15 April 2023 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. After completing orbital tests, the first high-resolution test image was captured on 29 April. İMECE was officially incorporated into the Air Forces Command inventory as “GÖKTÜRK-2B” on 22 May 2025.

Launch Information

The İMECE satellite was launched into space on 15 April 2023 at 09:48 Türkiye time from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, United States, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The launch ceremony was attended by Türkiye’s Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar and TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal at the TÜBİTAK Space Campus in Ankara.

The launch operation, delayed three times due to adverse weather conditions, was successfully completed. İMECE separated from the rocket at 12:24 and entered its orbit, transmitting its first signal at 12:29. Also launched on the same rocket were AKUP, developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY; KILIÇSAT, developed through a collaboration between ASELSAN and GÜMÜŞ; and CONNECTA T2.1, developed by PLAN-S.

Technical Specifications

İMECE has a mass of approximately 700 kilograms and dimensions of 2 meters by 3.1 meters. It features sub-meter panchromatic resolution and 3.96-meter resolution in the red-green-blue-near infrared bands. It can capture a single image covering an area of 1,000 kilometers in length and 16.73 kilometers in width, and transmits data to ground stations at a gross data rate of 320 megabytes per second.

The satellite is equipped with X-band and S-band communication systems. Its attitude and orbit determination system includes star trackers, sun sensors, reaction wheels, a global positioning system receiver, a magnetometer, and magnetic torquers. Power requirements are met by fixed solar panels and power control and distribution equipment.

The electro-optic camera was designed and manufactured entirely domestically in Türkiye for the first time. The flight computer, electric propulsion system, data compression-recording-formatting equipment, interface cards, and ground station software were developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY. The mission lifetime is planned for five years.

Technical and General Information on İMECE (AA)

Orbit and Mission Duration

İMECE operates in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 680 kilometers. This orbit enables the satellite to observe the same region at regular intervals under consistent lighting conditions. One orbit around Earth takes approximately 98 minutes.

Over its five-year design lifetime, İMECE will perform observation missions including target detection and identification, natural disaster monitoring, mapping, and agricultural applications. The satellite serves under the name GÖKTÜRK-2B in the inventory of the Air Forces Command.

Developed Subsystems

Under the İMECE Project, critical components including the electro-optic camera, flight computer, electric propulsion system, power control and distribution units, star trackers, sun sensors, reaction wheels, global positioning system receiver, magnetometer, and magnetic torquers were designed and manufactured by TÜBİTAK UZAY engineers.

In addition, X-band and S-band communication systems, data compression-recording-formatting equipment, reaction wheel interface hardware, flight software, analysis software, and ground station software were also developed nationally. The integration of these systems has enabled Türkiye to produce all avionics, communication infrastructure, and attitude-orbit control components of a satellite using its own capabilities.

Applications

İMECE is a versatile Earth observation satellite capable of serving both civil and military purposes. It can acquire images from any region of the world without geographical limitations.

Operating under the name GÖKTÜRK-2B in the inventory of the Air Forces Command, the satellite is used for target detection and identification, natural disaster monitoring, mapping, agricultural observation, and urban planning. It also provides data for environmental change monitoring, border security, infrastructure planning, and land use analysis.

Project Stakeholders and Institutions

The TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute leads the project. Funding is provided by the Presidency of Strategy and Budget and TÜBİTAK’s 1007 Public Institution Research and Development Support Program.

The customer institution is the Presidency of Defense Industries, and the end user is the Air Forces Command. After completion of testing, the satellite was formally accepted into the Air Forces Command inventory and designated as GÖKTÜRK-2B.

TÜBİTAK MAM produced the fixed solar panels, and TÜBİTAK UME manufactured the magnetometer and magnetic torquers. Collaborations were established with institutions such as ASELSAN, GÜMÜŞ, PLAN-S, and TUSAŞ.

Test and Integration Process

Assembly, integration, and testing of İMECE were conducted by TÜBİTAK UZAY. In 2020, the Thermal Structural Qualification Model was assembled and subjected to thermal vacuum and vibration tests.

Environmental tests were performed to evaluate resistance to temperature variations, pressure differentials, vibration, and acoustic effects. In 2022, the flight model entered integration, with final assembly completed at the TUSAŞ Space Systems Integration and Test Center.

İMECE successfully passed final control tests in June 2022 and was sent to the launch site in February 2023. Post-launch commissioning tests confirmed the system’s performance in orbit.

First Signal and Mission Activation

After its launch on 15 April 2023, İMECE separated from the rocket at 12:24 and transmitted its first signal to the TÜBİTAK UZAY ground station at 12:29. This process was monitored at the TÜBİTAK UZAY campus in Ankara.

On 29 April 2023, the first high-resolution test image was captured, successfully completing orbital tests. Performance data from the electro-optic camera, communication, and power systems were evaluated, and the satellite was declared operational.

Türkiye’s First Indigenous and National Surveillance Satellite İMECE Launched into Space (AA)

Integration into Inventory (GÖKTÜRK-2B)

On 22 May 2025, İMECE was formally integrated into the inventory of the Air Forces Command’s Ahlatlıbel Reconnaissance Satellite Command during a ceremony. In accordance with the Air Forces Command’s satellite naming standards, the satellite was designated “GÖKTÜRK-2B”.

TÜBİTAK UZAY Institute Director Mehmet Nefes stated that over 90 percent of the satellite’s components were domestically produced and confirmed that, following acceptance tests, the satellite officially entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces.

Domestic Production and Technological Gains

The İMECE Project aims to strengthen Türkiye’s national production capability in space technologies. The majority of the satellite’s components were designed, developed, and manufactured domestically. Systems such as the electro-optic camera, flight computer, electric propulsion system, power control units, communication systems, star trackers, sun sensors, magnetometer, and reaction wheels were produced using national capabilities.

The ground station software, attitude and orbit determination algorithms, and analysis software developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY have enhanced Türkiye’s independent control capability over satellite missions.

The technological expertise gained through domestic production has enabled Türkiye to achieve self-sufficiency in electro-optic satellite camera manufacturing and opened new export potential in this field.

Human Resources and Educational Contribution

The İMECE Project has expanded Türkiye’s skilled workforce in space technologies. Engineers involved in the project gained direct experience in system design, integration, testing, communication, and orbit control.

Through work conducted at TÜBİTAK UZAY, young engineers participated in every stage of satellite development, contributing to the formation of a qualified personnel pool. The knowledge gained in the project has been shared with universities and industry institutions to develop new application areas.

Formation Satellite Development Project

The technical expertise acquired through the İMECE Project has formed the foundation for the “High-Resolution Formation Satellite Development Project”, initiated in 2024. Led by TÜBİTAK UZAY, this project aims to adapt the technologies developed for İMECE to multi-satellite systems and enable their coordinated operation.

The Formation Satellite Project seeks to miniaturize and adapt İMECE’s electro-optic camera, flight computer, communication subsystems, and power units for use in smaller satellites.

İMECE (TUA)

Türkiye’s Position in Space Technologies

The İMECE Project aims to strengthen Türkiye’s position in the field of space technologies. With this project, Türkiye has joined the group of nations capable of independently developing an Earth observation satellite with sub-meter resolution electro-optic camera systems.

İMECE, led by TÜBİTAK UZAY, represents a further advancement in Türkiye’s indigenous satellite development journey, which began with BİLSAT, RASAT, and GÖKTÜRK-2. The engineering capabilities acquired in system design, integration, and testing have been applied throughout this process.

The incorporation of İMECE into the Air Forces Command inventory as GÖKTÜRK-2B demonstrates that space-based systems can be operationally utilized in Türkiye’s national defense domain.