Türkiye has officially signed the Artemis Accords, becoming the 71st nation to join the international coalition committed to peaceful, transparent, and sustainable space exploration. The signing ceremony was held Monday at NASA Headquarters in Washington and hosted by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
“We are honored to welcome the Republic of Türkiye as the 71st signatory of the Artemis Accords,” Isaacman said. “Last year, President Trump directed NASA to accelerate humanity’s return to the Moon, establish the first permanent lunar base on another world, and lay the groundwork for human missions to Mars. NASA will not undertake these ambitious goals alone. We are inviting all Artemis Accords signatories to contribute hardware, scientific payloads, technology demonstrations, CubeSats, and other capabilities to future Artemis missions.”
Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır signed the agreement on behalf of Türkiye. The ceremony was also attended by Turkish Space Agency Director General Yusuf Kıraç and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Environment Connor Tomlinson.
Türkiye’s growing achievements in human spaceflight highlight the country’s expanding role in international space exploration. In 2024, Alper Gezeravcı, Türkiye’s first astronaut, traveled to the International Space Station aboard Axiom Mission 3 and conducted scientific research alongside NASA astronauts. That same year, Turkish astronaut Tuva Atasever flew on Virgin Galactic 07, a suborbital mission that included scientific experiments and physiological research.
Türkiye is also preparing to launch its first lunar mission, AYAP-1. The mission will place the country among a growing number of nations developing and launching spacecraft designed to explore the Moon.
The signing of the Artemis Accords comes as Türkiye prepares to host the International Astronautical Congress in Antalya this October. Representatives from dozens of Artemis Accords signatory nations are expected to attend the event and discuss the future of peaceful, cooperative, and transparent space exploration.
NASA and the U.S. Department of State established the Artemis Accords in 2020 alongside seven founding nations. The agreement was created in response to growing interest in lunar exploration from governments and private companies. It sets out practical principles designed to promote safety, cooperation, and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other destinations in space.
The Artemis Accords commit signatory nations to:
- Explore space peacefully and transparently
- Provide assistance to astronauts and other personnel in need
- Share and enable access to scientific data
- Avoid harmful interference with the activities of other nations
- Protect historically significant lunar sites and artifacts through best practices
By signing the Artemis Accords, Türkiye opens the door to future lunar exploration partnerships with NASA and other international space agencies. The agreement strengthens global cooperation and supports humanity’s return to the Moon while helping shape a new era of space exploration, science, and innovation.
For more information about the Artemis Accords and NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program, visit NASA’s official website.
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Source: www.nasa.gov