Turkey’s space programme may prove too ambitious

Significance

It was touted by Ankara as another step towards the realisation of ambitious goals for its space programme set by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in February 2021. Yet, despite undoubted advances in the development of indigenous aerospace and defence industries, Turkey remains only a minor player in the intensifying competition in space.

Impacts

• The government’s efforts to reduce the budget deficit are likely to put pressure on its space programme.
• Ankara may join the International Lunar Research Station, a rival to the US Artemis programme led by China and Russia.
• Turkey plans to launch two additional ‘Imece’ Earth observation satellites in 2027 and 2028.