Turkey goes to space

The Turkey Space Agency was established in the country, the official gazette published a presidential decree signed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on December 13.

The agency will prepare and carry out the National Space Program in line with the policies determined by the president of Turkey.

According to the decree, the Turkey Space Agency will have financial and administrative autonomy, as well as a special budget.

In August, the country's Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank said a Turkish space agency would be founded this year, as it was set out in Turkey's 100-day action plan.

“Work to form the Turkish space agency will be completed as soon as possible," Varank said, adding that the new agency will pave the way for the establishment of a competitive indigenous industry.

"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," Hurriyet cited Varank as saying.

The agency will also pursue multilateral and bilateral cooperation with its international counterparts while protecting Turkey's rights at the United Nations.