Turkish Aerospace Industries formed partnership with Alex sistemi SpA for designing, manufacture and certification of the spacecraft transport container (STC) in the framework of the GokTurk programme. This is an international programme of cooperation between Telespazio (as a prime contractor) andThales Alenia Space (responsible for building the satellite and developing an integration and test center). Local industrial partners include Tai A.S., Aselsan A.S., Tubitak Uekae,Maleri and Roketsan.
The programme comprises an Earth observation satellite equipped with a high-resolution optical sensor, and a satellite integration and test center to be built in Turkey, plus a complete ground segment in charge of mission control, in-orbit operation, data acquisition and processing.

Finmeccanica, the Ministry of Defence of Turkey and the Secretariat of the Defence Industry of Turkey signed a contract in Ankara worth over EUR 250 million for the construction of the Gokturk satellite system. After that, Tai A.S. company contacted Alex sistemi SpA and offered a contract for design, production and certification of the spacecraft transport container (STC). The contract was signed in the TAI office in Ankara. The spacecraft transport container of the Turkish satellite is stamped with the name of Alex sistemi.

Turkish industry is involved in the system design and development, as well as supplying some system components. In particular, local partners will assist in the construction of the data acquisition station, the satellite integration centre, mission planning systems and remote sensing data processors.

STC MAIN REQUIREMENTS:

The Container shall conform to the latest international manufacturing and CE Standards as applicable:
Payload mass: 600 kg.
Payload Dimensions: 1.9 m x 1.9 m (Diameter x Height).

The main elements of Container:
1. Container Body;
2. Active Thermal Control Unit;
3. Breathing System;
4. Damping System;
5. Environment Data Recorders.

The satellite will be loaded in container inside the 100,000 class clean room. For this reason, Container shall be constructed using proper materials such that after cleaning the outside at the loading bay, the Container shall not cause any contamination in the clean room.
The atmosphere and materials inside the Container shall be compatible with 100,000 class.
The Container shall have a thermal control unit to keep the inside temperature of Container within 5˚C to 25˚C.

The Container shall have an environmental data recorder system. This system shall measure and record environmental values inside the container such as accelerations, temperature, humidity, pressure etc. Provision for retrieving the recorder data without opening the container shall be provided
To avoid dynamic coupling between the Container and spacecraft (Satellite), the lateral and axial fundamental frequencies of the damping system shall not exceed 10 Hz.

ENVIRONMENT

Outside Temperature: -40˚C, +65˚C

RESULTS:

The STC provides special trolley which carries on the PAYLOAD (orange dummy shown), to be inserted and locked inside the container.

Alex sistemi designed, produced, tested/qualified and delivered the SPACECRAFT TRANSPORT CONTAINER fully compliant all requirements with full satisfaction of the customer (Turkish Aerospace Industries).