The Republic of Türkiye has formally joined the Artemis Accords, becoming the 71st nation to commit to the international framework for space exploration. The signing ceremony took place at NASA headquarters in Washington, with Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır signing on behalf of his country. The event was hosted by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and attended by Turkish Space Agency President Yusuf Kıraç and U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Environment Connor Tomlinson.
The Artemis Accords, established in 2020 by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, set forth principles for lunar and deep-space exploration. These guidelines emphasize peaceful and transparent operations, the sharing of scientific data, the preservation of historic sites, and the commitment to render assistance to others in space. By joining the coalition, Türkiye gains opportunities to collaborate on future Artemis missions, which aim to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and prepare for the exploration of Mars.
Türkiye’s commitment to space science has grown significantly in recent years. In 2024, the nation achieved two major milestones in human spaceflight: Alper Gezervaci conducted research on the International Space Station during the Axiom Mission 3, and Tuva Atasever completed a suborbital flight on the Virgin Galactic 07 mission. Furthermore, the country is preparing to launch its inaugural lunar mission, AYAP-1, and is scheduled to host the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya this October.
Source: NASA
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