Why in News:

• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled an ambitious 10-year space program for his country that includes missions to the moon, sending Turkish astronauts into space and developing internationally viable satellite systems.

About the program

• Turkey planned to establish “a first contact with the moon” in 2023, when the country marks the centennial of the founding of the Turkish republic.
• Turkey established the Turkish Space Agency, or TUA, in 2018, with the aim of joining the handful of other countries with space programs.
• The first stage of the moon mission will be completed with international cooperation.
• The second phase of the mission will use the Turkish rockets.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/turkey-unveils-space-program-including-2023-moon-mission/article33799346.ece