Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır evaluated Turkey’s satellite and space projects.
Kacır stated that space agencies and companies are planning to build stations in low Earth and lunar orbits and that they are holding international meetings in this regard.
“Programs like Artemis and other programs are being reviewed.”
Stressing that they are evaluating the projects technically, Kacır said, “Programs like Artemis and other programs are being examined. In which areas and how we as a country can contribute is being evaluated. It is budgetary and time-demanding and technically complex. Therefore, international cooperation is required,” he said.
“We want to participate in space programs”
Pointing out that satellite projects are continuing, Kacır stated that the launch of Turkey's first national communications satellite, Türksat 6A, produced under the leadership of TÜBİTAK UZAY, into space in the second week of July will be an important milestone.
Pointing to new opportunities in this area, Kacır said:
“The space stations to be built will provide us with new opportunities to evaluate our experience and potential. We have gained experimentation and analysis experience in the microgravity environment. We want to participate in space programs within the scope of the capabilities of our country's space ecosystem.” We will gain deeper experience and experience with Türksat 6A and the Lunar Exploration Program (AYAP).
New target constellations
Stating that important progress has been made in the field of communication, observation and reconnaissance satellites, Kacır informed that they will soon start the İMECE constellation project. Drawing attention to the importance of studies on cube satellites, Kacır said:
“The new series will consist of two satellites and with the satellite constellation that will be put into operation within 4 years, a significant part of our country's needs for high-resolution Earth observation will be met with domestic resources. These projects will follow.” In addition, our work on small and cube satellites with different mission loads is continuing apace.”
The lunar vehicle project is progressing as planned
Kacır stated that they have extensive studies on space, including satellites, that they have brought their knowledge and experience in observation and communication satellite projects to the moon project, and that they aim to make Turkey one of the few countries to have a presence here.
Emphasizing that work continues within the scope of the AYAP-1 project to develop a spacecraft that will reach the lunar orbit from Earth, collect data from there and then contact the lunar surface, Kacır said that processes such as defining the mission of the satellite, determining additional scientific mission loads and critical equipment to be used have been completed.
Stating that the preliminary design of the hybrid propulsion engine, which was developed nationwide by Delta V company and will be used in the spacecraft during orbital transfer, has been completed, Kacır said:
“Our lunar vehicle will be ready for launch at the end of 2026 or in the first quarter of 2027 and will be sent into space, depending on launch availability. If no major setbacks occur, the project will be completed within the specified schedule.” The success of the technology, product, software and equipment to be developed with national resources will complete our country's system development and challenging missions. “We will strengthen its international reputation for its ability to conduct operations. We plan to have data from the origin of water on the moon to its surface components, from temperatures to radiation, converted into information by our scientists in Turkey. Since we are currently unable to launch satellites like spacecraft flying to the moon, the launch must be carried out “For this reason, negotiations have been started with countries that have launch capabilities.”
Map tests of the lunar vehicle were carried out at TÜBİTAK UZAY
Kacır pointed out the importance they attach to international cooperation in space and continued:
“We follow the lunar projects and programs of the countries closely. In the lunar projects of some countries, we can participate on an equipment basis. We want to participate in these programs in the interest of our country. Both our infrastructure and our capabilities show that we can participate in some dimensions. It will be sent to the moon by a private foreign company.” The electronic mapping tests of the rover vehicle were carried out at TÜBİTAK UZAY. We will be more effective both in terms of quality and number of actors within the scope of the National Space Program. “We are ready to carry out all works that will contribute to the development of humanity and the interests of our country.”
Kacır stated that one of the goals within the scope of the National Space Program is to independently meet Turkey's needs for spacecraft and satellite launches and to create a spaceport.
“Our activities to launch our own satellite and carrier rocket from our own spaceport are accelerating with the contribution of many institutions and organizations.” Kacır said that such a large facility should be built through foreign partnerships.
Cooperation with the United Arab Emirates on the space route
Stressing that like many other countries, they follow the independent access activities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kacır said:
“Our negotiations on establishing a technological and innovative spaceport that is compatible with our countries' space roadmap and can provide commercial services to third countries/companies are continuing. We have embarked on a solid path of cooperation with the UAE in the space field. With the agreement we signed on joint launch vehicles, both countries will benefit from the developing space economy.” Our aim is to increase their share. Thanks to strategic cooperation, we will increase our opportunities for establishing a joint launch vehicle and developing a launch vehicle. “With these projects, we will continue Turkey-UAE relations at the highest level to identify the most suitable location, infrastructure and required technologies.”
Minister Kacır pointed out that negotiations would continue within the framework of cooperation with Space said.
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