The presentation of "National Space Program" in which  10-year vision, strategy, objectives and determination of Turkey in the field of space policy was made at the Presidential National Congress and Culture Center. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shared the program with the public, prepared by theTurkey Space Agency under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Technology.

Stating that it is Turkey's road map in space, President Erdogan added: "Our first and most important goal in  the National Space Program is to realize the first landing on the moon in the 100th year of our pepublic. Thus, we will make our nation feel the pride of sending the crescent to the moon with our red flag, which is also the symbol of our civilization geography.

Speaking about the Eastern Anatolia Observatory (DAG), President Erdoğan said: “We are building the Eastern Anatolian Observatory at an altitude of 3,170 meters on Karakaya Hills in Erzurum. When this facility is completed,  Turkey's first largest optical and infrared telescope, 4 meters in diameter, will have been operated. During the presentation and the program, up-to-date photos and videos from DAG were also shared.

The importance and goal of DAG was emphasized in the National Space Program where
Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı and Astrophysics Research and Application Center (ATASAM) Director and DAG Coordinator Prof. Dr. Cahit Yeşilyaprak participated as a special guest representing both Atatürk University and DAG.

"It is among our country's 2023 Vision Projects"

Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı expressed that the National Space Program is a comprehensive project prepared to carry out the vision, strategies, goals and projects of our country in the field of space policies in a coordinated and integrated way to take advantage of the potential our country, adding that  the aim is to ensure the security of our creatures in space, to gain the ability to independently detect the orbits of our satellites with high accuracy, to conduct scientific analysis studies on planet exploration and space objects.

Stating that DAG has a national R&D infrastructure within this scope and that it was implemented with state support, Çomaklı told that the observatory, which is among the 2023 vision projects of our country, is extremely important for the country and the region, and the Optomekatronics Research Laboratory and Mirror and the Coating System which is planned to be installed will serve especially large-scale optical systems and space technologies.

Rector Çomaklı stated that he believes that DAG will provide opportunities for great breakthroughs not only in space sciences but also in space technologies and atmospheric sciences due to the innovations and differences it brings, as well as the location of the Eastern Anatolian Observatory. he also said that it will contribute to the trained manpower who specializes in an academic career. "

CORP

ORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE - 10.02.2021