Ankara [Turkey], September 15: Türkiye has completed the production and assembly of its first lunar spacecraft, transferring the 3.5-metric-tonne craft to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for environmental testing, the industry and technology minister said in a statement.
Mehmet Fatih Kacir said the craft is scheduled for launch from the Kennedy Space Center in early 2027 and will take around two months to reach a 100-kilometer (62.13-mile) polar orbit around the Moon.
The craft will operate in lunar orbit for three months, with the potential to extend its operation to a year and a half, during which solar winds, water formation, magnetic fields and surface radiation will be evaluated through homegrown scientific instruments.
Kacir stated that these efforts have been made to realize "a fully independent Türkiye in critical technologies," following the country's similar approach in its defense industry.
The spacecraft includes critical flight, communications and power systems developed for the previous Imece and Turksat 6A satellite projects, boasting an 80% domestic production rate.
"The further tests will verify the spacecraft's ability to withstand the harsh conditions it will encounter during launch and in the space environment," he said as quoted by Anadolu Agency. The craft will then be transferred to a new cleanroom facility of the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Institution (Tubitak) Space for final inspections.
The craft will use a homegrown hybrid propulsion system for orbit-raising maneuvers and a final controlled deceleration burn to reach the lunar surface at the end of the primary scientific mission.
"Only eight countries have carried out lunar missions so far, and when we implement our programme, Türkiye will become the ninth country," the minister noted.
These developments follow the country's recent accession to the Artemis Accords, signed to promote global cooperation in the peaceful exploration of the Moon and deep space.
Kacir stated that development of the Turksat 7A communications satellite has begun alongside the design phases of the Imece-2 and Imece-3 Earth observation satellite constellations.
Source: Emirates News Agency