GÖKTÜRK-2 was indigenously designed by TAI - Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. and TÜBİTAK Space cooperation in between 2007 and 2012. The spacecraft flight model has been integrated and tested at TAI's AIT Facilities in Akıncı/Ankara and the satellite launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China with a LM-2D Launcher.
After an official ceremony on December 18th 2012 with honoring President of Turkish Republic Mr. Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, Parliament Speaker Mr. Cemil ÇİÇEK and Turkish Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Necdet ÖZEL’s contribution, GÖKTÜRK-2 started its space operations in low earth orbit. In two years, the satellite recorded more than 10.000 passes with nearly 5000 images and covered 9.850.000 km2 ground surface.
Since its launch till today, GÖKTÜRK-2 keeps serving with its existence and successful operation on 684 km altitude under the control of Turkish Air Forces.
By GÖKTÜRK-2 and other conducted space projects TAI - Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. is serving its capabilities and infrastructure for further national space programs with an intensively expanding potential.
Turkish Aircraft Industries Corporation (TUSAS) was established on June 28, 1973 under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Technology in order to reduce the foreign dependency in defense industry in Turkey.
With the decision of meeting the combat aircraft requirement of Turkish Air Force (TurAF) with F-16s, TUSAS Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) was established by Turkish and US partners in 1984 for a period of 25 years with the aim to realize the manufacture, systems integration and flight tests of F-16 that would be delivered to TurAF.
TAI was restructured in the year 2005, just before the 25 years of period came to an end, with the acquisition of foreign shares by Turkish shareholders. Along with this restructuring, TAI and TUSAS have merged under the roof of Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) and have broadened its activities. Today, known as Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) has become Turkey's center of technology in design, development, modernization, manufacturing, integration and life cycle support of integrated aerospace systems, from fixed and rotary wing air platforms to UAVs and satellites.
TAI, which ranks among the top hundred global players in aerospace and defense arena, based its business on five strategic pillars: Aerostructures Group, Aircraft Group, Helicopter Group, UAS Group, and Space Systems Group
In addition, integrated logistics service is also provided for all products designed and produced by TAI.
