Erdogan Warns Against Space Arms Race at Astronautical Congress
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged global cooperation and announced a domestic lunar rover during the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya, Türkiye.
The 77th International Astronautical Congress opened on October 5, 2026, in Antalya, Türkiye, gathering thousands of delegates from 108 countries to discuss lunar exploration, satellite systems, and space security. During the opening address, Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged global cooperation to maintain space as a peaceful environment and criticized the militarization of space, arguing that the space race should not be a competition between a few powerful nations.
Erdogan detailed Türkiye's progress toward becoming a global space power, announcing the completion of a 3.5-metric ton lunar rover featuring over 80% domestic content. He highlighted the success of the Türksat 6A communications satellite and the country's first crewed flight. To improve launch access and support the African space ecosystem, Erdogan noted that Türkiye has begun constructing a spaceport in Somalia.
On October 6, congress discussions shifted toward the results of NASA's Artemis II mission and the sustainability of large satellite constellations. NASA Deputy Administrator Matt Anderson described the civilian space race between the United States and China as being closer than the U.S. would prefer, though he indicated that new announcements are forthcoming.
