A Kosmotras Dnepr rocket successfully launched the RASAT satellite along with other payloads at 07:12 GMT, 17th August, 2011, from Yasny in southern Russia.
Turkey plans to launch its first domestically-built earth observation satellite next year. Rasat, having a high-resolution optical imaging system and new modules developed by Turkish engineers, will be the first earth observation satellite to be designed and manufactured in Turkey.