TÜRKİYE’s steps in space and satellite technologies have been catching the eye. The progress in the National Space Program reveals Türkiye’s target of becoming an active player in the space race instead of an observer. Thanks to its indigenous satellites, satellite services exports, and global cooperation, Türkiye remains among the countries with a competitive capacity in the international space race.

NATIONAL SPACE PROGRAM

The National Space Program, conducted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and supported by the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, aims to achieve Türkiye’s independence in space. The program’s primary targets include various activities, from satellite manufacturing to launching technologies and space research to satellite services exports.

NEW STAGE: TÜRKSAT 6A

Following Türksat 5B’s successful launch in 2021, Türkiye launched Türksat 6A into space in 2024. The first indigenous and national communication satellite, Türksat 6A, stands out with its high-resolution image transfer, vast coverage network and powerful data transmission capacity. Upon launching Türksat 6A, Türkiye became one of the countries with the capacity to manufacture and launch communication satellites. Türksat 6A will provide data and communication services in a vast geography comprising Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Such a project gives Türkiye a regional and global competitive advantage in exporting satellite services. Moreover, while Türksat 6A’s export potential avails new markets, it also creates a significant source of revenue in high-tech exports.

SATELLITE SERVICE EXPORTS

Thanks to its high-resolution imaging and communication satellites, Türkiye holds a robust position in the export of satellite services. Various contracts have been signed to provide satellite data and image services with countries from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia markets. The space technologies developed by local technology companies such as Türksat and Aselsan are in high demand across the globe for their wide coverage and high data transmission speed.

FIRST TURKISH ASTRONAUT

Another giant step in space activities was the first Turkish astronaut’s mission to a global space station in 2023. Türkiye has been performing preparatory studies for new space missions since the first mission in 2024. The following targets are more extended missions and scientific research projects.

GLOBAL STRATEGY

Türkiye has been cooperating with the USA, Japan, Russia, China, and European countries in space. These collaborations enable the acceleration of satellite production processes and enhance technological capacity through know-how sharing. Türkiye has built remarkable cooperation ties with other developing countries in space.

By cooperating with local administrations in the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia, Türkiye has become a strategic partner in projects such as satellite data sharing, agricultural monitoring systems, and urban security infrastructure. Such cooperation highlights Türkiye as a reliable technology supplier in the international platforms.

SPACE ECONOMY

The space economy emerges as a rapidly growing global area with significant opportunities. As part of its targets regarding the space economy, Türkiye aims to own the capacity to independently access space by developing indigenous and national launching systems. Additionally, the country plans to compete in the global market with its indigenous satellite launch systems.

Türkiye Space Agency’s development studies on high-tech rocket engines and launching devices continue. Through such projects, Türkiye aims to build an indigenous satellite launching infrastructure and reach the capacity to perform independent tasks in space. The actualization of such targets will enable Türkiye to contribute more to the space economy and increase its competitive power in the global market in exporting satellite services.

Two spacecraft to be launched to the Moon

As part of the National Space Program, Türkiye plans to launch two more spacecraft to the Moon in the next few years. AYAP-1 will be launched in 2026 to collect scientific data, test new technologies, gain experience, and perform a ‘hard landing’ on the ground. A few years later, AYAP-2 will perform a controlled and soft landing to expand the previously collected data and install a robotic traveler on the Moon’s surface.

Strategic targets of the National Space Program

Some of Türkiye’s strategic targets to increase its competitiveness and independence in space are as follows:

Satellite manufacturing: With the goal of achieving independence in space technologies and increasing its global competitive power, Türkiye has been gathering all satellite production capabilities under the roof of a national company.

Access to space and spaceport: Focusing on the market of small satellite launches, Türkiye aims to build a spaceport by developing new rockets.

Astronomical observation: A national infrastructure will be formed for the astronomical observation and monitoring of space objects by integrating TÜBİTAK National Observatory and East Anatolia Observatory.

Space industry ecosystem: Innovative projects and private sector cooperation will be encouraged and support and intellectual property regulations will be performed for sustainable projects.

Space technologies development zone: To be founded in cooperation with the Middle East Technical University, this zone plans to draw local and global investors by offering incentives

to SMEs.

Space awareness and human resources: Offering university programs, scholarships, and space training aims to create a pool of qualified human resources in the space sector.