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How Turkey's Space Agency was established and what it does

Turkey's Space Agency (TUA) was established by presidential decree on Dec. 13, 2018, and is based in Ankara. Its main task is to prepare and implement Turkey's space policy and coordinate among the relevant institutions. Within this framework, satellite projects, human spaceflight activities, technology development and international cooperation are all handled under a single institutional structure.

TUA's existence means that work in space is seen not as a series of isolated projects, but as part of a broader strategy. The agency also plays a central role in bringing together public institutions, universities and industry around common goals.

What are the announced goals of the National Space Program?

The National Space Program was unveiled to the public on Feb. 9, 2021. The announced goals include reaching the Moon's surface, developing new space technologies, establishing a spaceport and sending a Turkish citizen into space on a scientific mission. This framework brings technical capacity building and a long-term vision under the same umbrella.

  • A mission aimed at reaching the Moon's surface
  • Developing new space technologies and domestic capabilities
  • Planning for the establishment of a spaceport
  • Sending a Turkish astronaut on a scientific mission

Not all of these goals are backed by the same level of concrete infrastructure. Assessments note that some are built on existing engineering and satellite experience, while others require long-term investment and international cooperation. In areas such as a spaceport, more clarity is expected in official statements on the implementation model and partnership structure.

What do the Alper Gezeravcı mission and Turkey's satellite experience show?

One of the program's most visible milestones was Alper Gezeravcı's launch on Jan. 18, 2024, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida as part of Axiom Mission 3. Gezeravcı carried out 13 scientific experiments on the International Space Station prepared by Turkish academic and research institutions; the mission was completed in February 2024. The process highlighted the scientific dimension of the human spaceflight mission as much as its symbolic importance.

Why are satellite projects seen as critical?

Turkey's space experience is not limited to the astronaut mission. RASAT, the country's first Earth observation satellite built with domestic resources, was launched into orbit in 2011; the IMECE satellite, developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY, was launched in April 2023. Taken together with the Göktürk series, this picture shows that Turkey has built up a capacity over time in observation and data generation.

In short, TUA and the National Space Program are both placing the country's existing satellite and research capacity within an institutional framework and setting a course for more ambitious goals. How much of that agenda rests on short-term infrastructure and how much on long-term vision will become clearer as further project details are announced.

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