Türkiye has become the 71st country to sign the Artemis Accords, joining the international framework established by NASA to promote peaceful, transparent and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.

Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır signed the accords on behalf of Türkiye during a ceremony held at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The ceremony was attended by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Space and Environment Connor Tomlinson, and Turkish Space Agency President Yusuf Kıraç.

Welcoming Türkiye as the newest signatory, NASA said the Artemis Accords continue to expand a coalition of nations committed to conducting civil space exploration in accordance with shared international principles.

Framework for international space cooperation

Introduced in 2020, the Artemis Accords provide a common framework for international cooperation in civil space exploration. According to NASA, the accords are not a legally binding treaty but a set of practical principles built on existing international space law, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

The signatories commit to conducting space activities peacefully and transparently, sharing scientific data, ensuring interoperability between space systems, providing assistance during emergencies, preventing harmful interference between missions, protecting historically significant sites in space, reducing orbital debris and supporting the responsible use of space resources.

The framework is intended to facilitate cooperation on future lunar missions while also supporting exploration of Mars and other deep-space destinations.

Türkiye advances its national space program

Türkiye's accession comes as the country continues to expand its national space program and pursue its long-term lunar exploration goals.

In 2024, Türkiye's first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı, traveled to the International Space Station as part of Axiom Mission 3, conducting a series of scientific experiments in orbit. Later the same year, Tuva Atasever carried out research during Virgin Galactic's Galactic 07 suborbital mission.

Türkiye is also continuing work on its first lunar mission, AYAP-1. NASA noted that the country's growing capabilities in human spaceflight and lunar exploration align with the cooperative principles promoted through the Artemis Accords.

Congress in Antalya

Türkiye's decision to join the Artemis Accords comes ahead of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), which is scheduled to take place in Antalya in October.

NASA said representatives from numerous Artemis Accords signatory countries are expected to attend the congress to discuss the future of peaceful, transparent and sustainable space exploration, as well as ways to strengthen international cooperation on lunar and deep-space missions.

Türkiye's accession marks another milestone in the country's expanding role in international space cooperation and reflects its ambition to participate more actively in future civil space exploration initiatives while adhering to internationally recognized principles. (ILKHA)