Turkey's second satellite successfully launched

Turkey's second observation satellite GÖKTÜRK-2 was launched successfully from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC) in China today.
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A ceremony was held at TÜBİTAK UZAY facilities in Ankara on the occasion of the launch with the participation of the President of Turkish Parliament Speaker of the Grand National Assembly Cemil Çiçek, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Commander of Turkish Armed Forces Gen. Necdet Özel and many other military and civil dignitaries.
The first national high-resolution optical observation satellite GÖKTÜRK-2, was launched on December 18, 2012 at 18:13 local time in Turkey with Long March-2D rocket. The launch process was watched live during the ceremony held at TÜBİTAK UZAY facilities.
The satellite, which was developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) and The Scientific and Technological Research Council Space Technologies Research Institute (TÜBİTAK UZAY) Consortium with 2,5 m resolution, left the launcher at 18:25 local time in Turkey and the first transition signal was received successfully from Tromso Satellite Station in Norway at 19:39 local time in Turkey.