Launch of Turkey’s First Spacecraft to the Moon Postponed

In recent years, Turkey has announced its own space research program, the National Space Program. Lunar Research Program It was announced that Turkey’s first spacecraft would also go to the Moon. President Erdoğan in his statement in 2022, “Next year we will launch our national and unique rocket. We will make a hard landing on the moon.” he said. However, it seems that the launch process has been postponed. The process will be completed in 2026.

According to the news of Anadolu Agency, the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Turkish Space Agency (TUA) Turkey’s 10-year plans and targets were revealed within the scope of the National Space Program, prepared with the studies of TÜBİTAK and TÜBİTAK and the contributions of organizations in the country. The first of the announced programs, the Lunar Research Program, will be carried out with the aim of making Turkey one of the few countries that have a presence on the Moon.

New date given for the Moon project

In the first phase of the Lunar Research Program, it is planned to explore the Moon from orbit and make the first contact with the Moon’s surface within the scope of the AYAP-1 project. In the second stage, it is aimed to land a roving rover on the lunar surface together with AYAP-2. rover These vehicles, called ‘Drops’, can be used on the surface of planets or satellites.

Within the scope of AYAP-1 Project of the Lunar Research Program Will reach lunar orbit from Earth A tool will be developed. This vehicle will collect data on the lunar surface from orbit and then manage mission operations for the rover that will be used on the lunar surface. Technologies, products, software and equipment developed with national resources will be used.

Turkey’s first “Moon” and “Deep Space” missions will be carried out with AYAP-1. Thus, Türkiye operational experience It will also make significant progress in terms of In addition, a spacecraft suitable for soft landing and capable of operating in lunar orbit, 400 thousand kilometers away from Earth, will be developed.

Developed with domestic resources with the project Hybrid Propulsion Systemwill gain space history with this project. from the lunar surface to be collected High-resolution images and scientific data containing information such as the origin of water, mini-magnetosphere formations, surface components, surface temperature and reflection maps, and radiation will be translated into information by scientists in Turkey.

The door to Deep Space studies opens

Project, In the National Space Program Progress is being made with the participation of many people from industry and academia in Turkey. Thus, the space ecosystem in Turkey will be strengthened. In addition, the data to be collected and the information obtained will increase Turkey’s competence and the level of international cooperation. Thus, the door will be opened for “Deep Space” research.

Launch postponed to 2026

In studies so far System Level Design Phase While it was completed, it was announced that activities are currently continuing in the Detailed Design Phase. At this stage, equipment, modules and components are developed. It was stated that the adequacy of the equipment to be used in the spacecraft for its mission was also reviewed and the production of qualification models for some equipment was started. After the equipment passes the qualification test, flight models will be produced and integrated into the spacecraft. After the flight models of the subsystems and equipment are produced, system level integration will be carried out, followed by environmental and functional tests. The processes are planned to be completed in 2026 and the vehicle will be launched in the same year.