“TUBITAK Space Technologies Research Institute (TUBITAK UZAY) is an applied research, technology development, and application-oriented institute. Our core competence is in satellite technologies in system and subsystem levels, however, we diversified our interest into communication systems, remote sensing and data processing, and aerospace technologies.
Our first optical remote sensing satellite was emerged as BİLSAT in 2003 with close collaboration with SSTL of United Kingdom. This was followed by the indigenous optical remote sensing satellites RASAT (2011) and GÖKTÜRK-2 (2013), establishing the institute as the leading satellite research and development organization in Turkey. RASAT and GÖKTÜRK-2 are still active in orbit and operated by TUBITAK UZAY and Turkish Air Force, respectively. To dates in these projects, we have developed several satellite subsystems, which are ready for space missions. Currently, we are developing subsystems for a higher resolution remote sensing satellites for Turkey. We were also awarded as the main contractor to develop next generation Turkish communication satellites for TURKSAT, known as TURKSAT 6A, to be completed in 2019.
Our interest in remote sensing is focused on post-processing of aerial and satellite images and developing algorithms and software tools to provide usable information for decision makers in areas such as precision agriculture and disaster management.
Along with our satellite related projects and studies, we have developed capabilities on designing RF (radio frequency) and microwave passive and active circuits, antennas, and communication specific baseband.
Recently, we have expanded our interest into aerospace technologies such as small unmanned systems to support our precision agriculture studies, high altitude long endurance unmanned systems for large area surveillance and mapping, aero-structures, and aero-thermal systems.
As for the history of our Institute, TUBITAK UZAY has its roots in Ankara Electronics Research and Development Institute, which were founded in 1985 as a publicly funded research institute. Later in 1991, the institute expanded its research areas into the information technologies. Along with this change of focus, the institute was renamed as Information Technologies Research Institute (BİLTEN) in 1995. Starting in 2001, we gravitated more to space domain in following years. Due to increasing focus on satellite technologies, in 2006, Institute’s name was changed to the current name.