Turkey targets 2027 launch of its first Moon mission on a Falcon 9
Turkey's first lunar mission, TLM-1, is contracted to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 between April and June 2027.
Turkey aims to launch its first mission to the Moon in 2027. The First Turkish Lunar Mission (TLM-1) is contracted to fly on a SpaceX Falcon 9 between April and June, with mission managers aiming for April.
TLM-1 is the first of a planned two-mission series that includes an orbiter and a lander. A launcher for TLM-2 has not yet been selected. If TLM-1 succeeds, Turkey would become the ninth sovereign nation, or collection of nations, to operate a payload in the lunar environment, following China, ESA, India, Israel, Japan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.
Dr Burak Yağlioğlu, project manager for the mission, gave an overview at the International Astronautical Congress hosted in Turkey. "As a nation with a moon on its flag, going to the Moon is a very, very, very long dream for us and that's why it has a very important national meaning, going to the Moon with our own capabilities," he said.
Sourcespaceflightnow.com