Türkiye has completed the production and assembly of its first lunar spacecraft, with the 3.5-metric-ton craft transferred to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) for environmental testing, the country’s industry and technology minister said in a recent statement.

Mehmet Fatih Kacir said the spacecraft is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center in early 2027. It is expected to take about two months to reach a 100-kilometer (62.13-mile) polar orbit around the Moon, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

The spacecraft will operate in lunar orbit for three months, with the possibility of extending its mission to up to a year and a half. During that period, it will use domestically developed scientific instruments to study solar winds, water formation, magnetic fields and surface radiation.

Kacir said the project is part of efforts to achieve “a fully independent Türkiye in critical technologies,” following an approach similar to the country’s drive for greater self-reliance in its defense industry.

The spacecraft incorporates critical flight, communications and power systems developed through the earlier Imece and Turksat 6A satellite projects. Its domestic production rate stands at 80%.

“The further tests will verify the spacecraft’s ability to withstand the harsh conditions it will encounter during launch and in the space environment,” Kacir said.

Following the environmental tests, the spacecraft will be transferred to a new cleanroom facility operated by the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Institution (Tubitak) Space for final inspections.

The spacecraft will use a domestically developed hybrid propulsion system for orbit-raising maneuvers, followed by a final controlled deceleration burn to reach the lunar surface at the end of its primary scientific mission.

“Only eight countries have carried out lunar missions so far, and when we implement our program, Türkiye will become the ninth country,” the minister said.

The developments come after Türkiye’s recent accession to the Artemis Accords, which aim to promote international cooperation in the peaceful exploration of the Moon and deep space.

Kacir also said development of the Turksat 7A communications satellite has begun, alongside the design phases of the Imece-2 and Imece-3 Earth observation satellite constellations.

Meanwhile, Ankara is building a spaceport in Somalia as part of efforts to eventually establish independent access to space and reduce the country’s reliance on foreign launch facilities.

The Turkish government is also working with the Turkish Space Agency and the Middle East Technical University (METU) to establish a space technology development zone in Ankara. The initiative aims to extend the rapid expansion of Türkiye’s defense industry into the space sector by integrating more technology startups into the country’s national space manufacturing ecosystem.

The southwestern coastal city of Antalya is set to host the 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC 2026) from Oct. 5-9, where Türkiye will showcase its expanding space capabilities to nearly 10,000 participants from around the world.