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Dec. 18, 2012
Today at 1612:52 UTC with the launching of the second Turkish made satellite, Göktürk-2, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Göktürk-2 was carried into space by a Long March 2D (Chang Zheng-2D) launch vehicle.
Launch of Turkish Satellite on Chinese Long March 2D
Launch was schedule on December 19, but adverse weather conditions forecast at the launch site prompted a 24 hour advancement of the mission.
Long March 2D
Long March 2D description:
1. PLF 11. 2nd Stage Main Engine
2. Payload 12. Inter-stage Shell Section
3. Supporting Bay 13. Inter-stage Strut Structure
4. Front Shell of 2nd Stage Oxidizer Tank 14. 1st Stage Oxidizer Tank
5. Equipment Bay 15. Inter-tank Section
6. Inter-stage Section 16. 1st Stage Fuel Tank
7. 2nd Stage Oxidizer Tank 17. Rear Transition Section
8. Inter-tank Section 18. Stabilizing Fin
9. 2nd Stage Fuel Tank 19. 1st Stage Engine
10. 2nd Stage Vernier Engine
Göktürk-2 satellite
The Göktürk-2 Program is an Earth Observation Scientific Research and Technology Satellite Development Project that is the first National Earth Observation Satellite that has been funded by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) resources.
Göktürk-2 satellite
The development of the Göktürk-2 Project is an effort to develop a satellite system and a subsystem design and development capabilities, as well as to establish a bus platform for future remote-sensing missions.
The satellite will be capable of a 2.5 meter panchromatic resolution and a 10 meter multispectral resolution. Its mission will have a dual civil and military purpose, with applications on disasters management, emergency situations, environmental control, mapping and planning, landcover survey, geology, coastal zone vigilance, ecosystem monitoring, water resources, etc.
The spacecraft is specified for an operational life time of five years, in a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of approximately 700 km.
China Great Wall Industry Corporation: http://www.cgwic.com/
CNSA - China National Space Administration: http://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n615709/cindex.html
Images, Text, Video, Credits: CNSA / CGWIC / ChinaNews.cn / Orbiter.ch Aerospace.
Cheers, Orbiter.ch
