Ankara: Trkiye is ramping up its national space initiatives with ambitious projects that include a new communications satellite, the construction of a spaceport in Somalia, and plans for a lunar mission in 2027, as disclosed by senior officials from the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), Turksat, and defense firms during the INSECSPACE 26 conference in Ankara.
According to Anadolu Agency, Turksat CEO Ahmet Hamdi Atalay announced that the design phase for the next-generation communications satellite, Turksat 7A, is nearly complete, with production set to commence shortly. This development is part of Trkiye's broader push for technological independence in its domestic satellite sector. Atalay also mentioned that Turksat has signed cooperation agreements with two Chinese satellite companies, highlighting Trkiye's strategy to collaborate with multiple international partners despite the growing distance between some Western countries and Beijing in the aerospace sector.
Atalay further expressed concerns about the management of space debris, citing that over 14,500 satellites are actively operating in orbit alongside thousands of inactive satellites. Meanwhile, TUA Chair Yusuf Kirac shared updates on Trkiye's lunar mission, which is slated for June 2027. The mission will utilize a SpaceX launch vehicle to reach Earth orbit, followed by an orbital transfer to the Moon using a domestically developed hybrid propulsion system produced by the Turkish firm DeltaV.
Kirac also highlighted the construction of a spaceport in Somalia, emphasizing the strategic benefits of Somalia's equatorial location for rocket launches. The Somali facility has already garnered global commercial interest, underscoring the importance of maintaining independent access to space through national launch infrastructure.
Trkiye is also preparing to host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) later this year in Antalya. Kirac noted that the event has attracted a record 8,300 academic and technical paper submissions, with over 1,800 from within the country-significantly higher than the typical 60 to 70 submissions in previous years.
Ali Yazici, chair of the INSECSPACE 26 event, remarked on the increasing importance and vulnerability of satellites amid global conflicts and cyber warfare, emphasizing their role in national defense, logistics, and secure communications. He also pointed out that supply chain disruptions, space debris risks, signal jamming, and data security concerns are affecting the performance and sustainability of space infrastructure, calling for cross-sector cooperation to bolster Trkiye's space ecosystem.