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Türkiye is moving toward becoming one of the few countries with its own launch facility as it begins establishing a spaceport in Somalia, a project aimed at strengthening its “space homeland” strategy.
According to information compiled by Anadolu Agency (AA), the project is being implemented under Türkiye’s National Space Program as part of the “Spaceport and Independent Access to Space” goal.
Construction has begun in Somalia, which was selected due to its geographic and operational advantages.
Astrophysicist Umut Yildiz said the project, announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and detailed by Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, offers Türkiye significant geographic and technological opportunities.
Yildiz said locations close to the Equator are preferred for rocket launches because the Earth’s rotational speed is highest there, providing additional thrust and allowing rockets to reach orbit more efficiently with less fuel.
He noted that the European Space Agency uses French Guiana for this reason and said Somalia offers similar fuel efficiency advantages.
He also said rockets are typically launched toward seas or oceans to reduce risks.
Yildiz noted that Türkiye’s geographic surroundings could pose challenges for regular launches, while Somalia’s location makes it a suitable alternative.
He added that security concerns could be addressed given the presence of a Turkish military base in Somalia and said he hopes the site will be used both for launching Türkiye’s own rockets and for future commercial purposes.
Somalia was selected due to its proximity to the Equator, its coastal location, year-round favorable weather conditions for launches, and low air and maritime traffic, all of which enhance launch safety and efficiency.
The project is being carried out under the coordination of the Industry and Technology Ministry, with contributions from relevant institutions, including the Türkiye Space Agency.
Once completed, Türkiye will become one of the few countries with an independent satellite launch infrastructure.
The project aims to enable the independent launch of domestically developed space vehicles and to establish a sustainable and competitive industrial ecosystem for launch technologies.
It also seeks to increase Türkiye’s share in the global space economy while strengthening space security through national solutions.
Under the project, national satellites will initially be launched into Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).
In later stages, the facility is expected to meet satellite launch demands from international customers.
The project also includes the development of domestic launch vehicles, research and development activities, and testing processes to ensure national capabilities in critical space technologies.
Infrastructure, subsystems and equipment related to space technologies will be localized, aiming to eliminate foreign dependency in areas such as rocket engines, fuel technologies, propulsion systems, advanced materials, avionics, and ground support infrastructure.
The launch center is planned to be opened for commercial use in later phases, providing services to the private sector and generating economic returns.
President Erdogan said the first phase of the three-stage project has been completed and construction has begun under the Türkiye Space Agency, adding that the goal is to establish significant infrastructure in space launch and satellite technologies.
Minister Kacir said the spaceport will become a strategic, revenue-generating infrastructure for Türkiye through growing commercial satellite launch services, testing activities and integration processes, while also contributing to Somalia’s development.
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