.jpg) TheTürksat 5A satellite launching from theCape Canaveral Space Force Station. | |
| Program overview | |
|---|---|
| Country |  Turkey |
| Organization | Turkish Space Agency |
| Purpose | FurtheringTurkey's interests inaerospace |
| Status | Ongoing |
| Program history | |
| Cost | ₺1.702 billion(2024)[1] |
| Duration | 1993; 33 years ago (1993)–present |
| First crewed flight | Axiom Mission 3 (18 January 2024, 16:49EST)[2] |
| Launch site(s) | Baikonur Cosmodrome Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Guiana Space Centre |
| Vehicle information | |
| Launch vehicle(s) | Ariane 4 Falcon 9 Proton-M |
.JPG)
Turkey first began developing its space program in 1993, and it has been under the authority of theTurkish Space Agency since 2018.
The space program of Turkey developed as part of the Turkish Science and Technology Policy under the authority of theScientific 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 ofEUMETSAT as early as 1984.[3][4] TheTurkish Air Force was tasked with making recommendations on a national space agency in 2001.[5] Turkey signed acooperation agreement withESA in 2004.[6] In 2018,Turkish Space Agency was founded by Presidential decree.[7] 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.[8] Agency currently has agreements withUkraine,Hungary andKazakhstan's space programs, and claims to conduct extensive nation-wide assessments regarding membership to ESA since 2020.[9]
In 2021, PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan announced a 10-year plan for Turkey's space program. Other objectives include development of new space technologies, establishment of aspaceport, the formation of a Space Technology Department, and sending a Turkish citizen to space on a scientific mission.[10] As part of theAxiom Mission 3, Turkey's first astronautAlper Gezeravcı was launched from theFlorida of theUnited States on January 19, 2024. Gezeravcı, who spent 14 days in space,[11] performed 13 scientific experiments prepared by academic and research institutions in Turkey on theInternational Space Station[12] and returned to Turkey on February 12, 2024.[13][14]
The state owned satellite communications companyTürksat began launching[citation needed] a series ofTürksat satellites in 1994. TheTÜBİTAK Space Technologies Research Institute is responsible for research and development relating to space technology. It has developed multipleEarth observation satellites, includingBILSAT-1 in 2003 andRASAT in 2011. Turkey has also developed theGöktürk series of satellites for military use. Other satellite-related projects being developed by the space program of Turkey include theRegional Positioning and Timing System and the Space Launch System.[citation needed]
Aspaceport is being built inSomalia.[15]
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