Turkey Signs US Moon Rules, But Its Rovers May Fly With China
Part of composite article Türkiye Sets $15B Trade Goal With South Korea, Signs US Moon Rules While Rovers Ride Chinese Rocket View full article →
Turkey has signed the US-led Artemis Accords, a set of rules for moon exploration. However, its first trip to the lunar south pole will likely rely on China.
A team of over 120 students and professors at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara has built prototypes of two AI-powered rovers. These rovers are designed for Chang'e-8, a Chinese mission planned for 2028.
Turkey is not a member of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), a base China plans to build on the moon. The ILRS is a rival project to the US Artemis program. Both Washington and Beijing are racing to reach the lunar south pole, a region believed to hold ice.
The situation highlights a complex balance. Turkey has joined the US framework for lunar rules, yet its first lunar hardware may travel on a Chinese rocket. This shows how nations can cooperate with both superpowers in the new space race.