Ankara: The Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir, has announced the completion of Turkey’s spacecraft production, which is set to land on the moon. This announcement was made during a press conference held in front of the spacecraft, highlighting a significant milestone in Turkey’s national space program, aimed at reaching the moon using domestically developed resources.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Minister Kacir emphasized that the mission will position Turkey among the elite group of countries that have successfully reached the moon, making it the ninth and the first Muslim country to achieve this feat. The spacecraft is touted as being more advanced than any previous Turkish satellite project, weighing approximately 3.5 tons. It will initially orbit the Earth before proceeding to the moon’s transfer orbit through a series of engine ignitions.

Kacir explained that as the spacecraft approaches the moon, additional engine ignitions will enable it to enter lunar orbit, where it will function as a satellite before ultimately landing on the moon’s surface. This mission will feature a spacecraft developed with over 80% local components, showcasing Turkey’s technological advancements, particularly in the hybrid propulsion system and hybrid rocket engine, which will be ignited for the first time globally.

The launch is scheduled for the early months of 2027 from the Kennedy Space Center in the United States. Kacir highlighted that the project’s software was entirely developed with local and national capabilities. The spacecraft will undergo rigorous environmental tests at the Satellite Systems Integration and Testing Center of Turkish Aerospace Industries before being sent to the United States for launch.

This ambitious project marks a significant step forward in Turkey’s space exploration efforts, reflecting its commitment to advancing technological capabilities and achieving new milestones on the global stage.