Türkiye’s 1st indigenous Earth observation satellite completes 1st year in space

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye’s first indigenous high-resolution Earth observation satellite, IMECE, completed its first year in space, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir said Monday.

Kacir wrote on X that IMECE, which was developed by the TUBITAK Space Technologies Research Institute and launched into space on April 15, 2023, has executed its mission successfully.

He noted that all of IMECE's key components are indigenous, including its electro-optic camera, which has a high resolution from approximately 700 kilometers (435 miles).

"With the IMECE satellite's mission, Türkiye has proved its ability in space technologies. We will send Türkiye's first national communications satellite TURKSAT 6A into space in the week of July 8. This will make us one of the 11 countries that can develop its own communications satellites in the world," he added.