Minister Kacır announced that production, assembly and integration of the Lunar Spacecraft Project, developed as part of Türkiye's first lunar mission, had been completed. At the Lunar Research Program Press Conference held at TÜBİTAK SAGE, Kacır said the spacecraft would be sent to TUSAŞ's Space Systems Integration and Test Center for system-level environmental testing.
Launch planned for early 2027
Kacır said the lunar spacecraft is planned to be launched in the first months of 2027. After a journey of approximately two months, the spacecraft is expected to reach a polar, circular mission orbit 100 kilometers above the lunar surface and operate in that orbit for at least three months.
Depending on mission performance, the operational period could be extended to up to 1.5 years. Türkiye aims to become the ninth country to carry out a lunar mission under the program.
The Moon's surface and surroundings will be studied
The mission will study the interaction of solar winds with the lunar surface, the mechanisms behind the formation of water on the Moon, the Moon's magnetic fields and the thermal properties of its surface. Measurements of the radiation environment on the Moon will also be conducted using domestically developed scientific equipment.
After the scientific studies are completed, the spacecraft is expected to reach the lunar surface through controlled deceleration maneuvers. The domestically developed Hybrid Propulsion System will be used at this stage.
Domestic content exceeds 80 percent
The approximately 3.5-ton spacecraft was produced with a domestic content rate of more than 80 percent. Capabilities developed under the İMECE and TÜRKSAT 6A projects, including the flight computer, communications, power, thermal control and orbital operations systems, were used in the lunar spacecraft.
The spacecraft's resilience to launch and the harsh conditions of the space environment will be tested through thermal vacuum, structural and electromagnetic compatibility tests. After these tests are completed, the spacecraft will be taken to the clean room and integration facility under construction at TÜBİTAK UZAY's ODTÜ campus. Following final checks, it will be sent to Kennedy Space Center for launch.
Program completion reaches 77 percent
The Lunar Research Program has reached a completion rate of 77 percent since the beginning of 2022. TÜBİTAK UZAY and DeltaV, along with domestic technology companies and startups, are involved in the development and production processes.
Kacır also announced that work had begun on the TÜRKSAT 7A satellite, which will have high-speed data transmission capacity and flexible coverage capabilities. The aim is to create an Earth observation satellite architecture capable of imaging wider areas and collecting data more frequently from the same region through the İMECE-2 and İMECE-3 satellite constellations.
Space technology development zone to be established
Türkiye joined the Artemis Accords, which aim to promote international cooperation in civilian space activities involving the Moon and other celestial bodies, at a signing ceremony on August 31. The 77th International Astronautical Congress is planned to be held in Antalya from October 5 to 9, 2026, with approximately 10,000 participants expected to attend.
Work is continuing to establish a space technology development zone in Ankara in cooperation with TUA, TÜBİTAK and ODTÜ. The spaceport under construction in Somalia is intended to support Türkiye's independent access to space.
