Having written its name on the list of leading countries in the field of space and aviation with the projects it has implemented, Turkey will use the 5 billion 52 million Turkish Lira allocated from next year’s budget to continue its work in the space homeland.
According to the compilation from the 2025 Central Government Budget Law Proposal, Turkey plans to successfully carry out its first manned space mission this year and continue its work that will keep it at the top of the list of countries with a say in space and aviation. In this context, the 4 billion Turkish lira budget allocated to space and aviation for 2024 has increased to over 5 billion 52 million Turkish lira for 2025. BUDGET WILL REACH 7 BILLION TL IN 2027 The increase in the budget estimates in question shows Turkey’s determination, which sent its first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı and its second astronaut Tuva Cihangir Atasever, as well as its first domestic and national satellite TÜRKSAT 6A into space this year, to implement the items in the National Space Program one by one. Work is continuing for the goal of “making first contact with the Moon” in the program. The design and production process of the space vehicle, which is planned to make first contact with the Moon in 2026 within the scope of the Moon Project, is carried out by TÜBİTAK SPACE. On that date, Turkey will also host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), the world’s largest space event. The congress will be held in Antalya in 2026. Planning to implement many more important projects in the coming period, Turkey has allocated 5 billion 984 million 396 thousand liras for space and aviation programs in 2026. It is envisaged that 6 billion 802 million 903 thousand liras will be allocated for 2027, when the R&D center to be established with the aim of developing fusion technology for use in propulsion systems in deep space studies is expected to be completed. TUA’S BUDGET HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED Various projects will be carried out in order to increase the current capacity in critical space and aviation technologies and sciences and to ensure that Turkey takes its place among the leading countries in this field. During the 2025-2027 period, in addition to lunar and deep space studies, activities such as education, joint technology development, experiments, and completion of the Space Weather Application Center to be established to monitor changes in space weather will be carried out within the scope of international collaborations. The budget allocated to the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) for next year to contribute to all these activities has been set at 2 billion 344 million 953 thousand liras. The budget in question was determined as 2 billion 781 million 864 thousand liras for 2026 and 3 billion 163 million 928 thousand liras for 2027. NATIONAL SPACE PROGRAM OBJECTIVES In addition, it is aimed to create a commercial brand that can compete with the world in the field of next-generation satellite development. Developing the country’s regional positioning and timing system, ensuring access to space and establishing a space port, investing in the field of space weather or meteorology, and increasing competence in this field are among the main goals. The program also includes taking Turkey to a more advanced level in astronomical observations and ground-based tracking of space objects, further developing the country’s space industry and economy system, and establishing a space technology development zone. Thus, Turkey is moving forward with firm steps towards its goal of gaining a share of the space economy, which has reached 600 billion dollars and is expected to rapidly increase to 1 trillion dollars.
