Turkey's Moon Mission Goal Announced at Salda Science Center Opening
Speaking at the opening of the science center in Burdur, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced that the country's first spacecraft will be sent to lunar orbit in early 2027.
Attending the opening ceremony of the Salda Science Center and MAKÜ National Technology Workshop in Burdur, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır announced that Turkey's spacecraft, developed with national resources, will be sent to lunar orbit in the first months of 2027.
Historic Opening Ceremony
Burdur hosted an important center in the fields of science, technology, and space research, opening its doors with a ceremony.
With the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, the Salda Science Center and MAKÜ National Technology Workshop entered service.
Protocol and Participants
Protocol members, international astronauts, academics, students, and numerous guests attended the opening program.
Burdur Governor Tülay Baydar Bilgihan, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, and MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar were present at the ceremony.
2027 Lunar Orbit Goal
Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that a critical stage has been reached in space studies within the scope of the National Technology Move.
He stated that the spacecraft produced with national capabilities will be launched in the first months of 2027 and conduct scientific research in lunar orbit.
Lake Salda and International Astronauts
Foreign astronauts in Turkey for the 77th International Astronautical Congress visited Lake Salda, Mars' terrestrial analog.
It was emphasized that Lake Salda serves as a natural laboratory for researching Mars' past thanks to the carbonate minerals it possesses.
New Science and Technology Centers
Established with a 30 million lira support provided by TÜBİTAK, the Salda Science Center became the country's forty-fifth science center.
The center houses the Confronting Mars exhibition and educational workshops focused on artificial intelligence and robotic systems.