OREANDA-NEWS. January 4, 2013. The Turkish satellite GK-2 was delivered into its predetermined orbit by China’s Long March 2D (LM-2D) carrier rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (JSLC).

The launch of the Turkish satellite was based on a contract signed by the China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) and the Turkey's Space Technologies Research Institute in May 2011. The satellite, jointly developed by Turkey's Space Technologies Research Institute and Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc., will mainly be used for environmental protection, mineral resource exploration, urban planning and disaster monitoring and management.

This launch is the 174th flight of the Long March series of carrier rockets, marking the completion of this year's space launches.