RASAT Earth Observation Microsatellite Design

RASAT was TÜBİTAK UZAY’s Earth-observation microsatellite design for demonstrating national spacecraft technology. The institute lists a 93 kg spacecraft mass and a camera providing 7.5 m panchromatic and 15 m RGB sampling. The design integrated domestically developed onboard computing, image processing and X-band communications with a small-satellite platform. The flight article launched in 2011 and was retired in 2022. Development also strengthened cleanroom, thermal-vacuum and vibration-test capabilities. Its engineering heritage informed later Turkish satellite work; it is a distinct design from GÖKTÜRK-2 and the later TstarL platforms.