TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute

TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute, also called TÜBİTAK UZAY, is a space research institute in Ankara, Türkiye. It designs and builds satellites, satellite subsystems and ground systems. The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye set up its test and integration facilities. The institute has worked on operational satellite systems for the national and international space sector for more than 20 years.

The institute developed the satellites RASAT, GÖKTÜRK-2, İMECE and TÜRKSAT 6A in Türkiye. Its other projects include İMECE-2, İMECE-3 and GEZGİN-1. Its latest launch was in the second quarter of 2026.

Its technology areas cover the Tstar satellite platform family, satellite subsystems and units, and satellite ground station operations. They also cover data processing and mining applications, space situation awareness and space exploration. Its lunar research program supports Türkiye's lunar mission. It also supports human space missions, including a science mission to the International Space Station and a suborbital research flight science mission.

The institute runs a production facility and an inspection facility. The inspection facility checks design and workmanship from board level to system level, so that equipment is ready to fly. Its integration and test facilities serve the space and defence industry. A separate facility develops and tests Hall effect electric thrusters. The Optical Systems Research Laboratory, known as OPMER, makes sensitive optical parts, mainly for satellites.

The institute also sells industrial services. These cover design, analysis, production, inspection, assembly, integration and testing for the space sector and other fields. It helps partners set up and run their own assembly, integration and test centres, including clean rooms, thermal vacuum, vibration, acoustic and EMI/EMC test facilities. It designs and builds multi-layer insulation blankets for spacecraft, and these have flown on the İMECE Earth observation satellite.

Other services include space operations support and advice on space law and policy. The law and policy team combines engineering, international relations and law. The institute works with international partners as well as national ones.

Services

• Satellite design and production
• Tstar satellite platform family
• Satellite subsystems and units
• Satellite ground station operations
• Data processing and mining applications
• Space situation awareness
• Integration and test services
• Electric thruster development
• Multi-layer insulation design and manufacture
• Space law and policy consultancy