Turkey leads paper submissions at 77th International Astronautical Congress

The 77th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) was held in Belek, Antalya, bringing together space agencies, technology firms, and researchers from 108 countries. The event served as a global platform for exchanging scientific knowledge and showcasing technological advancements in the space sector.

Turkey demonstrated significant participation at the congress, ranking first in the number of accepted papers. Out of 4,077 accepted papers, 674 were from Turkey, surpassing the United States (383), China (334), and Italy (330). This high volume of submissions highlights growing research interest and capacity within the Turkish space ecosystem.

During the congress, details of the Turkish National Moon Program were presented. The project involves a 3-ton lunar probe, constructed with over 80% domestic resources, which is scheduled for a hard landing on the Moon in the second quarter of 2027. The mission aims to measure space radiation, determine lunar albedo, and map various regions to support future lunar exploration.