Türkiye’s ‘Star Trek’
A New Era in Türkiye’s Space Adventure and the Turkish Space Agency (TUA)
Anıl Akyol
Attorney at Law (Ankara Bar Association); Chair of Ankara Bar Association Air and Space Law Board; Founder & VP of Altair Unmanned Vehicle Systems, Space and Law Association; National Coordinator for Türkiye of Moon Village Association; Graduate Researcher on Space Law at Atılım University Institute of Social Sciences
Introduction: What is TUA, what does it do?
Did you know that Türkiye was the first country in Europe where video conferencing was carried out via satellite system, or that there have been more than 30 Turkish satellite tests since the 90s and almost all of them were successful? This year, Türkiye’s first astronaut went into space, the date for the second one is awaited, and more than ten new commercial satellites from Türkiye are counting the days to go into space. In addition, there are many other state satellite projects and many new developments in the Turkish space ecosystem. With this article consisting of two parts, we will take you, dear readers, on a journey on Türkiye’s new space path. Let’s now look at what Türkiye, a relatively new actor in the space race, is doing in space today and the role of the Turkish Space Agency in this regard.
Türkiye’s space budget and qualified humanpower have increased since the 00s, has gained important capabilities, especially in terms of communication and earth observation (EO) satellites. Some of Türkiye’s priority goals are as follows:
- Securing independence in access to and use of space,
- Strengthening the space ecosystem,
- Developing opportunities for the use of space for the benefit of society,
- Gaining an increasing share of the global space market,
- Developing international cooperation opportunities that support the peaceful purposes of outer space, etc.
A comprehensive transformation has begun in Türkiye in the past years towards gaining national competencies and capabilities in space activities and ensuring technological independence. Arguably the most important step taken in the context of this transformation is the establishment of the Turkish Space Agency (“TUA” or the “Agency”), on December 13, 2018.
TUA is expected to augment Türkiye’s space capabilities, identifying needs and important technological development areas, harmonious operation of many institutions in a wide range, preventing duplicate investments and developing the space ecosystem. In addition, TUA will be a key actor in addressing issues such as representing Türkiye in the field of space before all international institutions and organizations, coordinating the work carried out under the auspices of these institutions and organizations, determining national strategies, ensuring self-sufficiency, increasing international competitiveness, and promoting the peaceful use of outer space.
TUA’s accepted budget for 2024 is approximately 1.7 billion Turkish Liras ($50m approx. with the currency rate of February 2024), but the Agency carries out studies in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK Space).
Türkiye’s National Space Program
In February 2021, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially announced a comprehensive national space program, outlining the goals to be explained below. The estimated cost of this ambitious initiative to the country’s budget is expected to reach approximately 6 billion US dollars.
Lunar Research Project (AYAP): Currently, two phases have been determined within the scope of this project. It is aimed to make a hard landing on the Moon in the first phase, and to make a soft landing on the Moon in the second phase, by landing a vehicle that will deliver a rover on the Moon’s surface.
Regional positioning and timing system (BKZS): Within the scope of the project, the construction of an atomic clock CubeSat is planned following a pre-feasibility study. An atomic clock has been produced within the scope of the Rubidium Atomic Frequency Standard Development Project (UTAS-R) with TÜBİTAK National Metrology Institute (UME), and studies on space history are continuing. Project designs will be updated to ensure that the Rubidium atomic clock can operate in CubeSat dimensions and space conditions. It is aimed to test the satellite in space between 2025–2026. Satellite-Based Assistance System (UTDS) and regional positioning and timing system studies are ongoing.
Access to space and spaceport: Feasibility studies were carried out to determine the construction of a launch vehicle and a spaceport. Research and studies on this subject are still ongoing. The spaceport installation project and launch vehicle system development stages are going to be under development over a period of 8–10 years.
Technological research on space weather: In this context, the Space Weather Application Center has been established and it is aimed to produce a space weather cubesat and test it in the space environment by 2026. There is also work underway to create a cosmic radiation map of Türkiye with a focus on space and civil aviation, with the coordination of the Turkish Space Agency.
Space situational awareness studies — Observation and tracking of space objects from the ground: During the process, near space observation system feasibility, system installation, and commissioning, operation and development of the system are envisaged. The plan includes the production and launch of a space-based observation experimental cubesat, its performance testing in space, feasibility analysis and, over time, the space-based system project and integration. Likewise, laser-based distance measuring systems, radar-based system feasibility and clean energy, solar sail, etc. projects are also included in this part of the program in the long term.
National Satellite Development Program: With this program, the aim is to gather satellite production under one roof in order to create a commercial brand that can compete globally in the field of new generation satellite development. Satellite production activities can thus be carried out independently, with the highest efficiency, and effectiveness, and with minimum resources. The private sector can easily benefit from public capabilities from a single contact point, and the competitiveness of the space industry will be increased.
This programme, however, might have negative effects on competition in the private sector. Although states have international responsibility vis-a-vis space activities, the space sector is not under their monopoly. One of the defining features of NewSpace is that it is highly commercialized. In this environment, state monopolization may complicate and even hinder technological developments by preventing competition, despite promises that (private) market competition would be sustained.
Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission (TABM): This Mission includes Türkiye’s first human presence in space, and aims to sustain their presence in orbit via various future missions. Astronauts are carefully selected following an extensive training programme, and are expected to conduct scientific experiments in the space environment. As the ability to access space increases in the long term, it is expected that the use of Türkiye’s domestic technology in these missions will increase.On January 19, 2024, Axiom Space’s AX-3 crew went to the International Space Station with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon probe. Alper Gezeravcı, who was one of four crew members in this mission, became the first Turkish citizen in space. Gezeravcı remained in the International Space Station for 22 days and performed a series of scientific experiments there. The mission had been scheduled to take place in 2023, the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, but it was postponed due to an operational delay announced by SpaceX and instead took place in January 2024. Gezeravcı, who returned to Earth after the end of the mission, safely arrived in Türkiye to a flurry of public attention.
The mission does not only involve an astronaut conducting experiments on the ISS, this is only considered an initial phase. Within the scope of its mission, it is the Agency’s duty to fulfill the requirements of being a scientific society. It is expected that Tuva Cihangir Atasever will take part in the AX-4 mission or another suborbital flight to be held in the coming months and become the second Turkish astronaut in space.
Other initiatives include the development of the Space Industry Ecosystem, the establishment of Space Technologies Development Zone, and other measures related to space awareness and human resources development.
How does TUA fare today in relation to the National Space Program and other institutional goals?
The agency, despite being relatively new, actively participates in national and international meetings and organizations. Finally, it was qualified to host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2026. It was announced that the Space Technologies Conference (STC) 2024 will be hosted by TUA in Ankara on 24–26 April. The agency promotes its work at these events, as well as raises awareness in broader issues pertaining to the role to be played by young generations. It also promotes the National Space Program (MUP), and generally acts as the flag bearer of the Turkish space ecosystem in international events.
The agency has also undertaken the coordination task of many projects within The Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), and has taken over the task of representing Türkiye from TUBITAK as a member or institutional delegate of international organizations such as Committee of Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), International Astronautical Federation (IAF), EURISY, Committee of Space Research (COSPAR), and Inter Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET).
The agency’s bilateral relations are gradually expanding. In the United States, meetings were held with organizations such as NASA, Axiom Space, Sidus Space, Sierra Nevada, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, RocketLab, Boeing Satellite and SpaceX, and a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between ESEN, Sierra Space and TUA. In recent years, SpaceX has delivered many satellites to space, where the launching state is Türkiye, and Axiom has undertaken the training of the first Turkish astronauts with the agreement signed at IAC 2022 Paris. Although the US side brings up the issue of the Artemis Agreement in bilateral meetings, the Turkish Space Agency is not yet a party to this agreement. At this stage, the Turkish Space Agency appears to be neutral between the Artemis and ILRS Programmes. APSCO, of which Türkiye is an important member, is headquartered in Beijing. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) studies are currently being carried out with CNSA. TUA has carried out consensus studies with giant space agencies such as U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA), Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA), Roscosmos (Russian Space Agency) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), as well as negotiations with space agencies of countries such as Austria, Bahrain, Canada, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Latvia , Mexico, North Macedonia, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, South Africa, and Tunisia. TUA also has close relations with Azercosmos (Azerbaijan Space Agency) and Kazcosmos (Kazakhstan Space Agency). Bilateral negotiations were held with these agencies, and TUA became one of the platinum sponsors of IAC 2023 in Baku. MoUs on space related areas have been signed with the space agencies of Algeria, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Colombia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the United Arabian Emirates, and Ukraine.
What about the Lunar Research Program (AYAP)?
Today, the race for the Moon and Mars has accelerated among countries with advanced space technologies. Under these conditions, Türkiye also plays a role in studies on the Moon and other celestial bodies with the Lunar Research Program. The success of the program will not only provide practical results such as transforming the acquired technologies into financial contributions in space and other fields, increasing the interest in science and technology in society, and increasing Türkiye’s soft power through international cooperation, but will also enable Türkiye to have more opportunities to engage in space activities. As a matter of fact, the Moon has the potential to be used as a base for deep space missions in the future.
The aim of the first phase of AYAP (AYAP-1) is to send a spacecraft into lunar orbit and deliver it to the surface after performing a reconnaissance mission around the Moon by using domestic technologies;
- to gain experience in space systems operating in deep space, to bring space heritage to the systems, and propulsion technologies,
- to become one of the few countries that have reached the Moon,
- to raise awareness around the country on science and technology issues, especially space,
- to contribute to world science and technology with scientific experiments on the spacecraft,
- to increase international cooperation opportunities in the field of science and technology, and
- to create the technical infrastructure for research on celestial bodies such as Mars and asteroids, that is, deep space missions.
Current Status of AYAP
During AYAP-1, the plan is to orbit the Moon, demonstrate domestic hybrid propulsion system technology and reach the lunar surface with a national and unique hybrid rocket. In this regard, the spacecraft which aimed to acquire a lunar orbit is developed by TÜBİTAK Space, the hybrid propulsion system produced by DeltaV company was launched in space last year, becoming the world’s first hybrid propulsion system sent to space.
- Tests and range expansion efforts for the spacecraft planned to orbit the Moon and reach the Moon’s surface, and the hybrid propulsion system developed for this vehicle continue. Studies on the development of subsystems, such as power distribution and regulation unit, reaction wheel, flight computer, satellite structures, electronic circuit designs, dosimeter (radiation meter) for the spacecraft are also in progress.
- Contracts for all subsystems to be procured from outside Türkiye have been signed or are about to be signed. Preliminary design studies have been completed in the project.
- Critical design studies of the lunar vehicle continue.
- Domestic and international component supply efforts continue.
- Space environment testing activities of the hybrid propulsion system, carried out with ground static firing and sounding rockets, continue.
The systems and technologies to be developed, operational and scientific data to be collected and experience gained from mission operations within the scope of AYAP-1, which officially started in December 2021, will form the basis for the soft landing mission targeted for phase II (AYAP-II).
While the technical phase of AYAP-1 continues, there are notable advancements in the scientific phase. A Scientific Working Group meeting was held in Istanbul in June 2023 for the first time. Lunar Neutral Telescope (LNT), one of the scientific mission payloads of Türkiye’s Lunar Mission, was announced during this meeting. The study, which will be carried out in partnership with the Swedish Institute for Space Physics (IRF), will collect data on neutral particles from the Moon’s surface. The Lunar Narrow Field of View Radiometer (LNR), which will collect data for thermal albedo and temperature modeling on the lunar surface, was also announced by Royal Observatory of Belgium (ROB) researchers during this meeting. Arca Bozkurt, the R&D manager of IRADETS explained the IRADCAL Radiation Calorimeter, which is another payload and developed by the company. It was announced that the Scientific Working Group would meet every six months, and it convened for the second time on January 31, 2024, this time in Ankara. This second meeting of the Working Group featured scientific presentations, including from the IRF, the ROB, and IRADETS, whose researchers appeared at the previous meeting and led the three scientific mission loads.
Conclusion
In light of the foregoing, it is clear that Türkiye is taking assertive steps as one of the relatively new players in the space race. With the establishment of the TUA, both the development of national space technologies and international collaborations have accelerated. Projects within the scope of the National Space Program include a wide range from landing a vehicle on the Moon to a regional positioning system. With Türkiye’s first astronaut, Gezeravci, being sent into space, public interest in space research is also rising. There is no doubt that achievements in this field will make significant contributions to Türkiye’s scientific and technological progress, increasing its international reputation and assuming a more active role in future space studies.
However, there are also some criticized aspects of the Program. The concern that too much government dominance in the space sector could hinder competition and slow down progress should not be ignored. At this point, encouraging the private sector and creating a healthy competitive and regulatory environment is critical. It is also of paramount importance that different stakeholders, both public and private, should be able to express their input and be a part of this regulatory process.
Despite all the difficulties, Türkiye’s space journey continues with firm steps. Türkiye aims to strengthen its place in the space age by developing national technology, increasing space literacy and strengthening international cooperation. It is exciting to witness where this journey has already taken Türkiye, and where it will lead the country. Every development is followed with curiosity, and Türkiye’s efforts to have a say in the space sector are exciting. Just like the motto of IAC 2026 Antalya:
Ad astra.
