Türkiye has on Monday formally joined NASA’s Artemis Accords, changing into the 71st nation to signal a world framework aimed toward selling peaceable, clear and cooperative exploration of the moon, Mars and past.
Trade and Expertise Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır signed the accords on behalf of Türkiye throughout a ceremony at NASA headquarters in Washington, hosted by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
“It’s my privilege to welcome the Republic of Türkiye because the 71st signatory of the Artemis Accords,” Isaacman mentioned, in response to a NASA assertion highlighting Türkiye’s rising function in house exploration.
The accords, established in 2020 by NASA, the U.S. State Division and 7 founding international locations, set rules for worldwide cooperation in house, together with peaceable exploration, sharing scientific information, offering help when wanted, and defending traditionally vital websites and artifacts.
Türkiye’s signing comes amid rising exercise within the nation’s house program.
In 2024, Alper Gezeravcı became Türkiye’s first astronaut, touring to the Worldwide Area Station and doing scientific analysis with NASA astronauts. Tuva Atasever later flew on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity as a part of the Virgin Galactic 07 mission.
Türkiye can also be making ready to launch its first lunar mission, AYAP-1, becoming a member of the small however rising group of nations constructing and launching their very own satellites to the moon.
The signing precedes the Worldwide Astronautical Congress, which Türkiye will host in the southern city of Antalya in October.
The occasion is predicted to deliver collectively dozens of Artemis Accords signatories to debate the way forward for peaceable and clear house exploration.
“Thanks, NASA! Türkiye stays dedicated to taking steps to reinforce worldwide house cooperation for peaceable functions,” Kacır mentioned in a press release on X on Tuesday.
“Beneath the visionary management of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, our Nationwide Area Program will proceed to ship outcomes for the widespread good of humanity,” he added.
“The collaboration between TUA and NASA performs a pivotal function in strengthening the scope of worldwide scientific analysis,” the minister mentioned, referring to the Turkish Area Company (TUA).
