Turkish Satellite to Launch in 2008

The Scientific Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) is preparing to launch a satellite over Turkey in 2008.

The council’s Space Technologies Research Institute (UZAY) is finally preparing the launch of the first Turkish satellite to travel into space in 14 years; after the TURKSAT satellites were launched in 1994.

The federal State Planning Organization will support the project with $10 million. The satellite will provide imaging for public organizations, such as the Emergency Management General Directorate.

Visiting the production facilities in Ankara, Turkish Space Research Chief Ugur Murat Leloglu said that, if successful, Turkey’s space program would eliminate Turkey’s dependency on other countries for satellite imaging

By Bahtiyar Kucuk, Ankara , Zaman Daily News, LINK