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On 31st August 2026, Turkey joined the US-led Artemis Accords as the 71st signatory, supporting peaceful and responsible space exploration.

Key Points

• About Artemis Accords: The framework establishes non-binding principles for safe, transparent and peaceful exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
• Launch: NASA and the US Department of State launched the Artemis Accords in 2020.
• Legal Basis: The accords are based on the principles of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.
• Key Commitments: Signatories promote scientific data sharing, astronaut assistance, interoperability and responsible space activities.
• Heritage Protection: The framework supports preservation of historically significant sites and objects on celestial bodies.
• Turkey’s Space Programme: Turkey is developing indigenous capabilities, including the AYAP-1 uncrewed lunar mission.
• Human Spaceflight: Alper Gezeravcı became the first Turkish citizen to travel to space in 2024.
• Regional Significance: Turkey became the seventh West Asian country to join the Artemis Accords.