AYAP-1
| Mission type | Lunar orbiter and impactor |
|---|---|
| Operator | Turkish Space Agency (TUA) |
| Mission duration | ~3 months (orbital phase) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | AYAP-1 |
| Bus | Indigenous design |
| Manufacturer | TÜBİTAK UZAY |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2027 (planned) |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, SLC‑40 |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | 2027 (planned impact) |
| Landing site | Lunar surface (Hard landing) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Lunar orbit |
| Regime | Circular |
| Altitude | 100 km (62 mi) |
AYAP-1 is a planned space mission by Turkey.[1] It is being developed by the National Space Program.[2] It is will be Turkey's first spacecraft to reach the Moon, entering lunar orbit and concluding with a controlled impact (hard landing) on the lunar surface.[3] It is expected to launch in 2027.[4][5][6]
Overview
AYAP‑1 is a part of Turkey's Lunar Research Programme (AYAP), an initiative whose goal is to develop Turkey's capabilities in deep‑space missions, lunar exploration, spacecraft systems, and scientific instrumentation.[7][8] TÜBİTAK UZAY leads the spacecraft's design, development, integration, & testing, working with foreign suppliers like Thales Alenia,[9] the Swedish Institute of Space Physics,[3] for certain subsystems, like communications equipment.[9][10]
Goals
The goals of AYAP-1 are:
- To reach Lunar Orbit and Impact.[8]
- Test Turkey's 1st hybrid propulsion system.[11]
- Collect data about the Moon's water, magnetic activity and radiation.[12]
References
- ↑ "AYAP-1 - Turkish Space Agency". tua.gov.tr. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- ↑ "Türkiye to send two space missions to the Moon - AYAP-1 and AYAP-2 spacecrafts set for lift-off". caliber.az. 2026-04-01. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- 1 2 modified, Last (2026-03-31). "AYAP-1". www.irf.se. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- ↑ Shimoyama, Manabu; Karlsson, Stefan; Barabash, Stas; Futaana, Yoshifumi; Wieser, Martin; Maynadié, Thomas; Yağlıoğlu, Burak; Karagözoğlu, Burak; Öztürk, Fahri (2025). "Study of plasma interaction with Lunar surface environment: Science cases with Lunar Neutrals Telescope on Turkish Lunar Mission AYAP-". doi:10.5194/epsc-dps2025-1325. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ↑ modified, Last (2026-05-07). "Turkish Lunar Mission – AYAP-1". www.irf.se. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
- ↑ "AYAP-1 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Next Spaceflight". www.nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
- ↑ "Turkiye's 1st spacecraft to travel to moon in 2026". dunyanews.tv. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- 1 2 "Within the scope of Türkiye's first lunar mission (AYAP-1), the 2nd Scientific Working Group Meeting was held on January 30 and 31, 2024, hosted by Türk Hava Kurumu University - TÜBİTAK UZAY". 2024-02-02. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- 1 2 "Thales Alenia Space to provide Communication Transponder for Turkey's first lunar mission". www.thalesgroup.com. 21 November 2023. Archived from the original on 2026-01-15. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- ↑ "Thales Alenia Space to Provide Communication Transponder for". Archived from the original on 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- ↑ "Damise". damise.com. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
- ↑ "Türkiye's 1st spacecraft to travel to moon in 2026". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2026-03-31.