Who Founded the Turkish Space Agency?

The post-2000s are virtually the Space Age. This subject, which reached its peak with the Cold War and the space race between the USA and the USSR since the 1960s, has become an ordinary topic for every citizen in the following years and, consequently, today. In this situation, catching up with the Space Age, having a voice in existing space studies, conducting space research at the state level, and taking a share of the global space economy has become the strategic priority of every state that wants to be powerful. Founded in 2018, the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) was officially established as a product of this trend and quickly began to undertake major projects, including manned space missions.

Establishment Date of the Turkish Space Agency

Now you have questions in mind: ‘When was the Turkish Space Agency established?’ or ‘Who founded the Turkish Space Agency? Who is its founder?’ Let’s answer this question clearly for our valuable readers without keeping them waiting: The Turkish Space Agency (TUA) was established by the Republic of Türkiye on December 13, 2018, with Presidential Decree No. 23. The pioneering ministry in its establishment is the Ministry of Industry and Technology. While the President of the period when it was founded was Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Minister of Industry and Technology of the period was Mustafa Varank. The founding president of the agency is Serdar Hüseyin Yıldırım, and the current presidency is held by Yusuf Kıraç. Therefore, we can say that the owner of the Turkish Space Agency is the Republic of Türkiye and the Ministry of Industry and Technology.

Works and Goals of the Turkish Space Agency

The establishment decree of the Turkish Space Agency, which is one of the few space agencies in the world, was published in the Official Gazette, and its definition was made as ‘the state institution responsible for Türkiye’s space sciences program and general aviation and space research.’ The institution is the sole authorized authority responsible for the preparation of the National Space Program and the implementation of this strategic roadmap. Stated to be administratively and financially autonomous, the headquarters of the Turkish Space Agency is in Ankara. Commenting on the opening of the agency, the officials of the period said that a 20-year dream had come true and stated that all kinds of products and technologies related to space and aviation, including satellites, launch vehicles and systems, aircraft, simulators, and space platforms, could be planned from a single source.

National Space Program Goals and Current Achievements

The Turkish Space Agency did not just remain at the establishment phase; it quickly implemented the National Space Program consisting of 10 basic goals. The most critical goals and the current status within the scope of this program are as follows:

• Manned Space Mission: Türkiye’s first manned steps in space have been successfully taken. Alper Gezeravcı became the first Turkish astronaut by going to the International Space Station (ISS) with Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) in January 2024. Subsequently, Tuva Cihangir Atasever carried out a suborbital research flight in June 2024.
• Satellite Development: Türkiye has become one of the 11 countries capable of producing its own communication satellite. TÜRKSAT 6A, the first domestic and national communication satellite, was successfully launched in July 2024 and was put into service at full capacity as of 2025.
• Moon Mission: It is aimed to gain operational capability in deep space by performing hard and soft landings on the Moon. In this context, work continues unabated for AYAP-1 (Moon Research Program-1), and the hard landing is planned to take place between 2026-2027.
• International Partnerships: Today, TUA is a dynamic institution carrying out strategic partnerships with giants such as NASA, ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA, and Axiom Space. Additionally, Türkiye will host the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), the world’s largest space event, in 2026.
• Regional Positioning and Spaceport: Technical processes continue to establish a sovereign positioning system belonging to Türkiye and to have its own launch facility (Spaceport).