Turkey has set out plans to send its first astronaut to space to coincide with its centenary celebrations next year.
The country hopes to launch the milestone mission in August after signing an agreement with private company Axiom Space at the International Astronautical Congress in Paris on Monday.
Mustafa Varank, Turkey’s Minister of Industry and Technology, spoke of the country's aim to break new ground 100 years on from its formation.
“We signed a historical agreement on the first manned space mission to be carried out in the 100th anniversary of our republic,” he said.
“We will co-operate with Axiom Space for the training and flight service of the Turkish space traveller whose selection process is ongoing.”
Axiom Space is a private space infrastructure company based in Houston, Texas, and operates private missions to the International Space Station.
It is the same company that helped the UAE secure a long-duration mission to the ISS.
Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi will be part of the SpaceX Crew-6 mission — set for lift-off in April — and will spend six months in the floating laboratory.
The historic mission is part of Turkey's ambitious 10-year space programme, which has also set its sights on journeys to the Moon.
Dr Mesut Gokten, director of Tubitak Uzay, a Turkish space technology research institution, said that this mission was in line with the nation's vision for its space programme.
Turkish space official Serdar Huseyin Yildrim said that the momentous journey would help pave the way for future missions.
“This mission is a part of Turkey’s ambitious 10-year space road map, which includes missions to the low-Earth orbit and the Moon as well as developing internationally viable satellite systems,” he said.
International Astronautical Congress 2022 — in pictures
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The International Astronautical Congress - world's largest space congress - is taking place at the Paris Convention Centre from September 18 to 22. All photos: Sarwat Nasir / The National -
Hamad Al Marzooqi, UAE's Moon mission director, attends the IAC 2022 in Paris. -
A visitor takes a photo of a spacesuit that Indian astronauts will wear one day. -
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne speaks at the International Astronautical Congress 2022 in Paris on September 18. -
French Prime Minister speaks at IAC 2022 in Paris. -
Visitors attend the opening ceremony of the IAC 2022 in Paris on September 18. -
Japan's space agency Jaxa is displaying asteroid samples at the space conference in Paris. -
The Lockheed Martin stand at IAC 2022 in Paris displays satellites. -
Visitors at the IAC 2022 in Paris on September 18. -
A model of the H2-A rocket at Japan's space agency JAXA's stand at IAC 2022 in Paris. -
Nasa's stand at the IAC 2022 in Paris. -
The UAE Space Agency and Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre are also participating at this year's IAC in Paris. -
A rocket display at the stand of the Indian space agency, or ISRO, at the IAC 2022 in Paris. -
The Hakuto-R Mission 1 lander by ispace, the Japanese private company that will help the UAE land its rover on the Moon next month. -
A model of an exploration rover and astronaut suit at the IAC 2022 in Paris. -
The Saudi space agency's stand at the IAC 2022 in Paris. -
An astronaut suit by the Indian space agency ISRO. -
Rocket models at the IAC 2022 in Paris.
