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Turkey announces National Space Agency

The space programme is one of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's 100-day action plan and is aimed at creating a indigenous space industry in the country.

Turkey’s official gazette published a presidential decree last week announcing the establishment of the country’s space agency as part of its efforts to develop a competitive indigenous industry. The space programme is one of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 100-day action plans and was announced in August 2018 by Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank.

The Turkey Space Agency will prepare and carry out the National Space Programme in line with the policies determined by the president of Turkey, according to the decree. The agency will have financial and administrative autonomy as well as a special budget.

“Work to form the Turkish space agency will be completed as soon as possible,” Minister Varank said in a statement.

“We are forming the Turkish space agency in order to strengthen our aerospace industry, improve scientific infrastructure and human resources in the field of space technology and further boost our capacities and abilities.”

The space agency will design and produce satellites, launching equipment, aerospace platforms, simulators and space platforms, as part of its efforts to accomplish the vision of creating an indigenous industry.
A report from Daily Sabah added that the agency will be based in Ankara and will be allocated 20% of the space at the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBİTAK).