AYAP-1

AYAP-1 (Lunar Research Program)
Mission typeLunar orbiter and impactor
OperatorTurkish Space Agency (TUA)
Mission duration~3 months (orbital phase)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftAYAP-1
BusIndigenous design
ManufacturerTÜBİTAK UZAY
Start of mission
Launch date2027 (planned)
RocketFalcon 9 Block 5
Launch siteCape Canaveral Space Force Station, SLC‑40
End of mission
Landing date2027 (planned impact)
Landing siteLunar surface (Hard landing)
Orbital parameters
Reference systemLunar orbit
RegimeCircular
Altitude100 km (62 mi)
AYAP-2 (Soft lander/Rover →

AYAP-1 is a planned space mission by Turkey, being developed by the National Space Program. It 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. The mission is expected to launch in 2027.

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. TÜBİTAK UZAY leads the spacecraft's design, development, integration, & testing, working with foreign suppliers like Thales Alenia, the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, for certain subsystems, like communications equipment.

Goals

The goals of AYAP-1 are:

References

  1. ↑ "AYAP-1 - Turkish Space Agency". tua.gov.tr. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. 1 2 modified, Last (2026-03-31). "AYAP-1". www.irf.se. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  4. ↑ 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-". Bibcode:2025epsc.conf.1325S. doi:10.5194/epsc-dps2025-1325. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
  5. ↑ modified, Last (2026-05-07). "Turkish Lunar Mission – AYAP-1". www.irf.se. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
  6. ↑ "AYAP-1 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Next Spaceflight". www.nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2026-08-25.
  7. ↑ "Turkiye's 1st spacecraft to travel to moon in 2026". dunyanews.tv. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. ↑ "Thales Alenia Space to Provide Communication Transponder for". Archived from the original on 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  11. ↑ "Damise". damise.com. Retrieved 2026-03-31.
  12. ↑ "Türkiye's 1st spacecraft to travel to moon in 2026". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2026-03-31.