The First Turkish Lunar Mission: Developing the World’s First Lunar Water Lifecycle Observatory
Day: Wednesday 7 October
Time: 15:45 - 16:30
Location:
The international community has entered a new lunar race defined by sustainable resource utilization. At the center of this effort is the "Lunar Water Cycle," which the first Turkish Lunar Mission (TLM-1), launching in early 2027, is uniquely positioned to observe. This lecture explores the development of the world’s first Lunar Water Lifecycle Observatory, focusing on three core pillars:
Engineering the Indigenous Deep Space Platform: Developed by TÜBİTAK UZAY, the TstarD platform marks Türkiye’s transition to interplanetary operations. The lecture details the engineering of this high-performing spacecraft, hosting domestic Hybrid Propulsion System, Vision-Based Navigation (VBN) and other platform systems. It serves as a masterclass for rising space nations on balancing satellite heritage with cutting-edge indigenous innovation to execute a 400,000 km journey.
Dynamic Water Mapping via LNT: The scientific centerpiece of TLM-1 is the Lunar Neutrals Telescope (LNT), developed by the Swedish Institute of Space Physics (IRF). Offering unprecedented resolution and sensitivity, the LNT captures the first high-resolution energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) images of the Moon to revolutionize our understanding of Moon–solar wind interactions. By detecting ENAs, TLM-1 will provide the first dynamic map of the water cycle—tracing how solar wind creates water precursors, how they migrate across the lunar surface, and how they are eventually trapped in Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs).
Thermal and Surface Characterization via LNR: Complementing the LNT is the Lunar Narrow Field of View Radiometer (LNR) developed by Shenzhen University, China to measure the high-resolution thermal distribution across the lunar surface. Precise knowledge of extreme temperature gradients is essential for interpreting water migration patterns and ensuring asset survival.
The Turkish Lunar Mission is more than a national milestone; it is a global scientific necessity. Integrating the LNR, LNT, indigenous radiation instruments, and optical cameras, TLM-1 becomes a comprehensive environmental laboratory. This lecture provides the IAF community with essential data for future In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), celebrating Türkiye’s rise as a lunar pioneer.
