The initiative, announced by Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, is designed to put Turkey among the few nations with its own infrastructure for space launches, Euronews claims.
The Turkish spaceport will be built in Somalia. The publication quoted Minister Kacir as saying that Somalia was chosen after extensive feasibility studies. States located near the equator have significant technical advantages for space launches: the high speed of the Earth’s rotation in the equatorial zone allows rockets to reach orbit with less fuel.
In addition, Somalia’s long coastline extending into the Indian Ocean allows for eastward launches over sparsely populated areas, which increases the safety of operations.
On the other hand, Turkey’s geographical position makes its airspace and sea lanes among the busiest in the world. Conducting launches within the country would require covering large areas, which creates technical difficulties and the need for international approvals. And Turkey’s location far from the equator deprives it of the benefits of “equatorial acceleration”. The construction of a spaceport in Somalia makes it possible to compensate for this disadvantage.
As Euronews notes, relations between Turkey and Somalia have developed into a strategic partnership in recent years. Since 2011, when Ankara launched massive humanitarian aid, cooperation has expanded to cover a wide range of areas, from space technology to deep-sea drilling.
Turkey plans to start drilling oil and gas wells off the coast of Somalia in 2026. Under a 10-year defense and economic cooperation agreement signed in 2024, the Turkish navy also secures Somalia’s territorial waters.
With the construction of its own spaceport, Turkey will not just join the cohort of countries with its own infrastructure for spacecraft and rocket launches. The project envisions the formation of a sustainable industrial ecosystem in critical areas, from the development of rocket engines and propellants to the production of advanced materials, avionics and ground support systems. This should reduce Turkey’s dependence on foreign technologies and ensure long-term technological growth.
The spaceport is expected to be integrated into the global commercial market for space services. It can become a significant source of revenue through commercial satellite launches, testing and integration activities. Turkish authorities also emphasize that the project will contribute to the economic development of Somalia.
