Turkey hosts the world’s largest space event

In 1925, the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, already declared: « the future is in the sky« . More than ever, this statement is relevant with this congress and the recognition from the space world for Turkey, which is experiencing a resurgence of investment in the sector, both from the government and private actors.

From October 5 to 9, 2026, more than 10,000 space professionals will gather in the Mediterranean resort of Antalya for the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC).

For Turkey, this event now marks not only its recognition as a space power, but also testifies to its proactive policy in this field.

As Mehmet Fatih Kacir, the Minister of Industry and Technology, stated:

« We will leave our mark on an event worthy of our country, which will announce to the world Turkey’s rise in space science and technology through the National Space Program implemented under the leadership of our President, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and which will ensure that space efforts serve the common future of humanity. »

This event did not escape the notice of the President of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), Yusuf Kirac, who stated that « the event will bring together more than 10,000 space sector professionals in Turkey, marking a historic turning point for the country’s space vision. »

This choice of Antalya for the 77th International Astronautical Congress also marks Turkey’s entry into the club of spacefaring nations, and rightfully so.

Indeed, as early as February 2021, and to make up for lost time (it was only in 1993 that Turkey’s space activities were first included on the government agenda), the Turkish authorities launched a space program with a « 2030 horizon » aiming to achieve ambitious objectives ranging from meteorology to astronomical observation, including the development of satellites and the creation of a space station, managed by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA, created in 2018).

As a reminder, in January 2024, Turkey sent its first astronaut aboard the Ax-3 mission to the ISS. This was Alper Gezeravciun, a 44-year-old former fighter pilot.

On this occasion, the Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir, declared, « that the mission was a first, but it will not be the last. A new chapter has opened in the field of space science and technology for Turkey. »

In the same year, Türksat-6A, the first « made in Turkey » communications satellite, was launched by SpaceX.

Türksat-6A is a national telecommunications satellite platform, developed by Tübitak Uzay, drawing on experience gained from the Rasat and Göktürk-2 projects, and in collaboration with its partners Tusas, AselsanS, and CTech.

Among the projects of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) that demonstrate Turkey’s dynamism, two examples stand out:

– A lunar lander, AYAP-1, is planned for 2026 by the TUA.

As part of its lunar program, the TUA plans to launch the first Ayap-1 spacecraft by the end of the year.

Leveraging international cooperation, the Turkish Space Technology Research Institute Tübitak Uzay has signed a contract with Thales Alenia Space to provide Ayap-1 with equipment that will enable communication with the ground station and control of the spacecraft.

– Turkey is also preparing to establish its own launch facility by building a spaceport in Somalia to strengthen its independence in the space industry.