Turkiye will send its first spacecraft to the Moon in 2026.

Axar.az reports that it was stated that a decisive stage has begun within the framework of the National Space Program announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan earlier.

We are talking about the Turkish Space Agency (TKA) sending a spacecraft to the Moon. The spacecraft named "AYAP-1" will be sent to the Moon next year.

As of today, the risks of the spacecraft planned to reach the Moon within the framework of "AYAP-1" have been determined, and preliminary design work is underway. The hard landing on the Moon is planned to take place in 2026. On the other hand, negotiations are ongoing for the lease of ground stations.

In the second phase of "AYAP", the device is planned to go into space with a national carrier, and a soft landing on the lunar surface with the "AYAP-2" spacecraft using domestic engines and scientific research is planned there.

It should be noted that TKA head Yusuf Kırach previously stated that his country would be one of the leading actors in space.