Antalya:Turkey is steadfast in its pursuit of becoming a significant and respected player in the global space arena, declared President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan addressed the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, emphasizing Turkey's achievements in satellite technology and lunar exploration. He urged for increased international cooperation in space activities, underlining Turkey's perseverance in its space endeavors despite various challenges.

Erdogan announced the completion of production, assembly, and integration tasks for Turkey's lunar spacecraft, developed as part of the nation's Lunar Research Program. This spacecraft, weighing approximately 3.5 tons, boasts over 80% domestic production, which Erdogan described as a source of national pride.

The president also highlighted the importance of Turksat 6A, Turkey's domestically developed communications satellite, which demonstrates the country's engineering prowess and industrial capabilities in space technology.

TEKNOFEST, Turkey's major aerospace and technology festival recently concluded in Sanliurfa, drawing participation from over 730,000 teams globally. Erdogan mentioned that Turkey's spaceport project in Somalia aims to enhance the country's space access while aiding Africa's space development.

Erdogan remarked that the space race should not be exclusive to a few nations and criticized the militarization of space. He expressed his hope that the congress would contribute positively to the future of participating countries and humanity as a whole. The event will continue in Antalya until Friday, with Anadolu serving as the global communication partner.