ANKARA - Turkey signed a cooperation agreement with the European Space Agency (ESA) on Thursday.
The cooperation agreement on examining and using outer space through peaceful means was signed in the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK).
TUBITAK Deputy Chairman Prof. Dr. Nuket Yetis said that the agreement provided Turkey with cooperation opportunities with ESA in every kind of scientific and technical studies that would be conducted for use of space through peaceful purposes.
ESA is Europe's gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe's space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe.
ESA has 15 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programs and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.
ESA's job is to draw up the European space program and carry it through. The Agency's projects are designed to find out more about the Earth, its immediate space environment, the solar system and the Universe, as well as to develop satellite-based technologies and services, and to promote European industries. ESA also works closely with space organizations outside Europe to share the benefits of space with the whole of mankind.
ESA's 15 Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Britain.
(EÖ-AÖ) 15.07.2004