Türkiye targets first satellite launch on its own rocket in late 2027

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  Turkey’s 77th International Astronautical Congress was held from 5 to 9 October in Belek, in Antalya’s Serik district.

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  At a panel on the congress’s final day, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır said Turkey aims to send its own satellite into space using a domestically developed rocket.

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  Kacır said Turkey is preparing to travel to the Moon with a spacecraft it developed, with the mission planned for the first months of 2027 and 87% domestic content.

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  He said Turkey is building a spaceport in Somalia, near the equator, to support launches and improve the country’s independent access to space.

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  Kacır said the Şimşek-1 project aims to place the 400-kilogram HÜRSAT satellite into orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometres by the end of 2027.

Who

Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır; TEKNOFEST and Baykar chair Selçuk Bayraktar

What

Turkey’s space plans, including a lunar mission, a spaceport in Somalia and a domestically developed rocket and satellite launch

When

The congress took place from 5 to 9 October 2026; the lunar mission is planned for early 2027 and the Şimşek-1 launch for the end of 2027

Where

Belek, Serik district, Antalya, Türkiye; the planned spaceport is in Somalia

Why

To build Turkey’s independent access to space, develop strategic capabilities and gain economic opportunities

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