13.08.2026 13:34
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that the schedule for the Moon Project has been clarified, saying, 'We will send our lunar vehicle, which has its own hybrid propulsion rocket system, into space in the first months of 2027.'
Minister Kacır made an assessment to the press at the 28th TÜBİTAK Sky Observation Event held at Emre Lake in Afyonkarahisar.
Stating that space holds a very important place in Türkiye's National Technology Initiative claim, Kacır said that space and space technologies also constitute the most strategic infrastructures for critical areas such as the defense industry.
Emphasizing that they have carried out very critical work under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Kacır drew attention to the fact that they have built a very significant capability in satellite technologies with BİLSAT, RASAT, GÖKTÜRK-2, Türksat 6A and İMECE.
Kacır stated that they are continuing deep space projects within the scope of the National Space Program and said:
"Our engineers, researchers, and scientists are developing Türkiye's own lunar vehicle. We will send our lunar vehicle, which has its own hybrid propulsion rocket system, to space in the first months of 2027. The launch schedule has now been clarified. All tests have been successfully completed. Hopefully, we will realize such a claim as Türkiye by bringing to our country a technological capability that very few countries in the world can achieve."
SPACE PORT PROJECT
Stating that independent access to space is a strategic goal for Türkiye, Kacır said that Türkiye has very important capabilities in rocket and missile technologies.
Noting that ROKETSAN, TÜBİTAK SAGE and Delta V also have very important work at this point, Kacır continued:
"We are gradually approaching the point where these efforts will lead to the production of rockets that will enable us to send our own satellites into space with our own means. We are also prioritizing having space port infrastructure for independent access to space. Space ports are established at points where access to space is most cost-effective. Equatorial regions offer the opportunity to access space in more cost-effective ways because they also benefit from the Earth's rotational speed. As Türkiye, we are taking a very strategic step and building our own space port in Somalia. Hopefully, that project will be completed quickly, and Türkiye will gain the capability to send its own developed satellites and spacecraft into space from its own space port using its own rockets."
Kacır emphasized that all of this is possible with an ecosystem, and said that the space technopark they will establish at METU will be an infrastructure where all institutions and companies in this field are clustered and R&D activities are carried out together.
Referring to the manned space science missions carried out by Türkiye, Kacır said, "There will be more to come. Türkiye is preparing to participate in this process as a country that develops and produces technology components in the new international space stations to be established in the coming period. We are striving to sign many international collaborations in this direction."
"A DECLARATION WILL BE PUBLISHED FROM ANTALYA FOR THE FIRST TIME AT IAC 2026"
Kacır stated that they will host the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026), to be held on October 5-9, in Antalya, and said that with more than 10,000 participants from over 100 countries, one of the largest scientific organizations in Türkiye's history will be held there.
Kacır expressed their excitement about hosting such a congress for the first time and welcoming guests from all over the world in Antalya, and said they believe the congress will offer great opportunities to introduce Türkiye's capabilities to the world and open the door to new international collaborations.
Kacır stated that the world is in a period of deep divisions on many issues, and that Türkiye is a very strong country that sends messages of peace and stability both to its region and the world during such a period.
Stating that space is an area open to collaborations, Kacır expressed that they find it very meaningful for Türkiye to host a congress in such a period, in a field highly compatible with its own international mission and claim, with participation from all possible countries around the world.
Kacır said Türkiye will host the largest of these congresses, breaking records in all pre-registration statistics and scientific paper submissions.
Noting that they have also created an area for new generation space technology initiatives at the congress, Kacır recorded:
"This area will be a platform where 'New Space' is strongly represented not only by large companies and institutions, but also by technology initiatives focusing on paradigm shifts, as in many fields. This will bring a unique approach to the congress. A declaration will be published from Antalya for the first time at IAC 2026. There was no such practice in previous congresses. We aim for this declaration to particularly include messages of peace, trust, and stability. We proposed this to the International Astronautical Federation. A meeting will be held one day before the start of the congress with the participation of parliamentarians and government representatives from around the world, and the 'Antalya Declaration' will be published there. We want space to continue to be a medium for peace and cooperation and to provide a platform for the development of technologies that will serve humanity. The congress in Antalya will actually enable us to give a very meaningful and strong message to all international diplomatic processes in the world we live in."