Turkey targets 2027 launch for first Moon orbiter mission

Turkey plans to launch an uncrewed lunar orbiter onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in 2027 as the initial step in its two-mission Moon program.

FTMQ Space, written by our newsroom31 October 2026 at 00:100 views

Turkey aims to launch its first mission to the Moon in 2027 onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Spaceflight Now reported. The uncrewed First Turkish Lunar Mission (TLM-1) is scheduled to launch between April and June 2027, with mission managers targeting an April flight. [1]

The spacecraft has completed vehicle integration in a clean room, according to Spaceflight Now. The TLM-1 orbiter will carry several scientific instruments into lunar orbit. It represents the first flight in a planned two-mission series for the country. [1]

Continuous space exploration of the Moon began in 1959. Turkey plans to follow the orbiter mission with a lunar lander designated as TLM-2. Spaceflight Now reported that a launch vehicle for the second mission has not yet been selected. [1][3]

If the TLM-1 mission achieves success, Spaceflight Now reported that Turkey will become the ninth sovereign nation or collection of nations to reach lunar orbit. [1]

The TLM-1 lunar orbiter mission is contracted to launch between April and June 2027 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
The spacecraft has completed vehicle integration in a clean room by Tübitak Uzay.
Turkey plans a second lunar flight, TLM-2, which will attempt a surface landing.

Sources

Every paragraph above points to the numbered items it rests on. Read the originals here.

[1]Turkey aims for first Moon-orbiting mission in 2027Spaceflight Now, 9h ago (the report this story comes from)

Background

[2]2027 in spaceflight on Wikipedia
[3]List of missions to the Moon on Wikipedia
[4]Turkey on Grokipedia

Our newsroom writes these reports with the help of software, from the 4 sources listed and nothing else, and checks them against those sources. Facts can still be wrong or move on; the originals are the record. Spotted a mistake? Write to daniel@monsterkong.com.

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