Türkiye targets 2027 launch for lunar spacecraft mission

Türkiye's Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir announced that the country will launch its lunar spacecraft in early 2027, confirming the vehicle's domestically developed hybrid propulsion system has completed all testing phases.

Mission Set for 2027 Launch Window

Kacir told reporters during the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Institution's (TUBITAK) Sky Observation Event in the western province of Afyonkarahisar that the launch schedule had been finalized. The mission will place Türkiye among a select group of nations possessing advanced lunar exploration capabilities.

Space Infrastructure as Defense Pillar

The minister emphasized that space infrastructure has become a strategic pillar of Türkiye's defense capabilities, citing recent achievements in satellite projects including Turksat 6A, Imece, Bilsat, Rasat and Gokturk-2. Kacir noted that work was underway to secure independent access to space through the construction of an equatorial spaceport in Somalia, which is intended to support launches of domestically developed satellites and spacecraft. "We're reaching the point where these efforts will enable Türkiye to produce rockets capable of launching our own satellites into space entirely through our own means," he said.

Equatorial Launch Advantages

Kacir explained that equatorial regions offer significant operational benefits for space access. "Equatorial regions offer the opportunity to access space through more cost-effective means, taking advantage of the Earth's rotational speed," he added. The minister said these advances were supported by a growing domestic space ecosystem, noting that a planned space technopark at Middle East Technical University (METU) would bring together institutions and companies to conduct research and development activities.

Global Cooperation and Antalya Congress

Beyond its plans for independent launch capabilities, Türkiye is preparing to sign international cooperation agreements to develop components for new space stations and seeks to participate in additional crewed missions. The developments come as the southwestern province of Antalya prepares to host the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) from Oct. 5-9, bringing together an expected 10,000 participants from more than 100 countries. Kacir said the event had broken previous records for pre-registration and paper submissions and was poised to become one of the largest scientific gatherings ever held in Türkiye.