Türkiye’s 1st Homegrown Lunar Spacecraft To Be Tested Ahead Of 2027 Mission
Fahad Shabbir (
@FahadShabbir
) | September 15, 2026 | 06:45 AM
ANKARA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 15th Sep, 2026) Türkiye has completed the production and assembly of its first lunar spacecraft, transferring the 3.5-metric-tonne craft to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for environmental testing, according to the industry and technology minister.
Mehmet Fatih Kacir stated that the craft is scheduled for launch from the Kennedy Space Center in early 2027 and will take approximately two months to reach a 100-kilometer (62.13-mile) polar orbit around the Moon.
The craft will operate in lunar orbit for three months, with the potential to extend its operation to a year and a half, during which solar winds, water formation, magnetic fields, and surface radiation will be evaluated through homegrown scientific instruments.
Kacir emphasized these efforts as a step towards achieving “a fully independent Türkiye in critical technologies,” following the country’s successful path in its defense industry.
The spacecraft incorporates critical flight, communications, and power systems developed for previous projects, boasting an 80% domestic production rate.
"The further tests will verify the spacecraft’s ability to withstand the harsh conditions it will encounter during launch and in the space environment," he stated, as quoted by Anadolu Agency. The craft will then be transferred to a new cleanroom facility of the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Institution (Tubitak) Space for final inspections.
The craft will utilize a homegrown hybrid propulsion system for orbit-raising maneuvers and a final controlled deceleration burn to reach the lunar surface at the end of the primary scientific mission.
"Only eight countries have carried out lunar missions so far, and when we implement our programme, Türkiye will become the ninth country," the minister noted.
These advancements follow the country’s recent accession to the Artemis Accords, signed to promote global cooperation in the peaceful exploration of the Moon and deep space.
Kacir further mentioned the ongoing development of the Turksat 7A communications satellite and the design phases of the Imece-2 and Imece-3 Earth observation satellite constellations.
