Illustration of Turksat-5A. Credit: Airbus
Illustration of Turksat-5A. Credit: Airbus

On a cold January morning in 2021, Türkiye launched its Türksat 5A satellite into orbit, marking a significant step toward space independence. The nation celebrated this achievement, but underlying questions emerged: Can Türkiye realize its space ambitions without more robust foreign partnerships? Will a lack of sufficient private sector development hinder innovation?

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Elif Yüksel is a Turkish pioneer in space diplomacy and policy, specializing at the Space Policy Institute of George Washington University. She is a Fulbright Scholar, Space Policy Institute Fellow, and an alumna of the International Space University....