BILSAT-1: first Earth observation satellite of Turkey - operations and lessons learned

BILSAT-1 is an enhanced micro satellite designed and manufactured in the framework of a KHTT program between SSTL (UK) and TUBITAK-BILTEN (Turkey). The satellite was launched by a COSMOS 3M launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia on September 27, 2003. After being injected in a sun synchronous orbit at a 686 km altitude, it was commissioned successfully via ground control station at TUBITAK-BILTEN. After commissioning, the regular operations have started. Many images have been gathered over Turkey and over various locations around the world. In contrast to large national Earth Observation satellites such as LANDSAT, EO-1 and Terra, BILSAT-1 addresses similar applications, with an emphasis on temporal resolution. BILSAT is a member of DMC (Disaster Monitoring Constellation), which is an international consortium with the member countries Turkey, UK, Algeria, Nigeria and China. The DMC satellites share the same orbit and separated from each other with a phase angle of 90 degrees. BILSAT as well as other DMC satellites has an on board propulsion and GPS navigation system by means of which the phasing of the DMC satellites is managed in a regular 6 months basis. BILSAT-1 also accommodates some experimental payloads on board, including a multi-band imaging system, a real time image compression module, a GPS attitude receiver and a Control Moment Gyro. First two of these payloads are Turkish payloads designed and developed by BILTEN engineers at TUBITAK-BILTEN. As well as these experimental payloads, BILSAT-1 also hosts some new technologies such as high capacity solid-state data recorders and star trackers. These experimental payloads and new technologies are being operated and in orbit performances are being tested. Since this is the very first LEO satellite that BILTEN has ever operated, some very valuable experience has been gained by BILTEN engineers about satellite operations.