Space program of Turkey

The space program of Turkey developed as part of the Turkish Science and Technology Policy under the authority of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey in 1993, which designated space technology as one of the primary fields of technology. Prior to that, Turkey became one of the founding members of EUMETSAT as early as 1984.{{Cite web |title=Our Space History - Turkish Space Agency |url=https://tua.gov.tr/en/our-space-history |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=tua.gov.tr |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=20 April 2020 |title=EUMETSAT member states {{!}} EUMETSAT |url=https://www.eumetsat.int/who-we-are/eumetsat-member-states |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=www.eumetsat.int |language=en}} The Turkish Air Force was tasked with making recommendations on a national space agency in 2001.{{Cite journal |last1=Ercan |first1=Cihan |last2=Kale |first2=İzzet |date=2017-01-01 |title=Historical space steps of Turkey: It is high time to establish the Turkish space agency |url=http://westminsterresearch.wmin.ac.uk/17826/1/1-s2.0-S0094576516302594-main.pdf |journal=Acta Astronautica |language=en |volume=130 |pages=67–74 |doi=10.1016/j.actaastro.2016.10.019 |bibcode=2017AcAau.130...67E |issn=0094-5765}} Turkey signed a cooperation agreement with ESA in 2004.{{Cite web |title=ESA signs Cooperation Agreement with Turkey |url=https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/ESA_signs_Cooperation_Agreement_with_Turkey |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}} In 2018, Turkish Space Agency was founded by Presidential decree.{{cite news |date=13 December 2018 |title=Turkey formally establishes its national Space Agency |newspaper=Daily Sabah |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/defense/2018/12/13/turkey-formally-establishes-its-national-space-agency |accessdate=2022-05-13}} The stated objectives of the Turkish Space Agency include development and resource independence through space technology. The Turkish Space Agency also seeks to develop the space program to increase Turkey's influence and recognition on the world stage.{{Cite web |title=About the National Space Program |url=https://tua.gov.tr/en/national-space-program/about-the-national-space-program |access-date=2022-05-13 |website=Turkish Space Agency |language=en}} Agency currently has agreements with Ukraine, Hungary and Kazakhstan's space programs, and claims to conduct extensive nation-wide assessments regarding membership to ESA since 2020.{{Cite web |title=International Cooperations - Turkish Space Agency |url=https://tua.gov.tr/en/international-activities/international-cooperations |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=tua.gov.tr |language=tr}}

In 2021, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a 10-year plan for Turkey's space program. The primary objective of this plan is to achieve a Moon landing through international cooperation in 2023{{Update inline|date=May 2025}} to mark Turkey's centennial, followed by an independent Moon landing in 2028. Other objectives include development of new space technologies, establishment of a spaceport, the formation of a Space Technology Department, and sending a Turkish citizen to space on a scientific mission.{{Cite news |last=Sahin |first=Tuba |date=2021-09-02 |title=Turkey unveils national space program |work=Anadolu Agency |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/science-technology/turkey-unveils-national-space-program/2139378 |access-date=2022-05-13}} As part of the Axiom Mission 3, Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı was launched from the Florida of the United States on January 19, 2024. Gezeravcı, who spent 14 days in space,{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=Turkey hails its first astronaut to go to International Space Station |url=https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/02/12/turkey-hails-its-first-astronaut-to-go-to-international-space-station |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=euronews |language=en}} performed 13 scientific experiments prepared by academic and research institutions in Turkey on the International Space Station{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=Sanayi ve Teknoloji Bakanlığı: İlk Türk astronot Alper Gezeravcı uzayda 13 bilimsel deney yapacak |url=https://www.indyturk.com/node/690466/haber/sanayi-ve-teknoloji-bakanl%C4%B1%C4%9F%C4%B1-i%CC%87lk-t%C3%BCrk-astronot-alper-gezeravc%C4%B1-uzayda-13 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Independent Türkçe |language=tr}} and returned to Turkey on February 12, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=Türkiye'nin ilk astronotu Gezeravcı, Türkiye'ye döndü {{!}} Teknoloji Haberleri {{!}} Bigpara |url=https://bigpara.hurriyet.com.tr/haberler/teknoloji-haberleri/turkiyenin-ilk-astronotu-gezeravci-turkiyeye-dondu_ID1479507/ |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=bigpara.hurriyet.com.tr |language=tr}}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=First Turkish astronaut arrives in Türkiye - Türkiye News |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/first-turkish-astronaut-arrives-in-turkiye-190635 |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Hürriyet Daily News |language=en}}

The state owned satellite communications company Türksat began launching{{Cn|date=May 2025}} a series of Türksat satellites in 1994. The TÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute is responsible for research and development relating to space technology. It has developed multiple Earth observation satellites, including BILSAT-1 in 2003 and RASAT in 2011. Turkey has also developed the Göktürk series of satellites for military use. Other satellite-related projects being developed by the space program of Turkey include the Regional Positioning and Timing System and the Space Launch System.{{Cn|date=September 2024}}

A spaceport is being built in Somalia.{{Cite news |title=Turkey is building a spaceport in Somalia |url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/02/06/turkey-is-building-a-spaceport-in-somalia |access-date=2025-02-26 |work=The Economist |issn=0013-0613}}

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