Proud pioneers: First Turkish space travelers realize aspirations

Proud pioneers: First Turkish space travelers realize aspirations

Alper Gezeravcı and his backup Tuna Cihangir Atasever, who had been launched as Türkiye’s first house vacationers within the seventh version of Teknofest, and engaged in preparations and coaching within the U.S., have just lately shared particulars of their choice course of, expectations, apart from sharing their pleasure on being chosen for such mission.

Gezeravcı is an completed pilot on the Turkish Air Forces Command, whereas Atasever is an engineer engaged on house launch methods on the Turkish protection large, Roketsan.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) from the Houston middle, Gezeravcı, who is ready to spend 14 days on the International Space Station (ISS), mentioned that he participated within the house mission whereas persevering with together with his Air Force Command roles and duties.

Gezeravcı famous that he received to know in regards to the “Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission” unintentionally whereas watching the news one night, as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan introduced this system, Gezeravcı determined to look at the factors on the web site of the Turkish Space Agency.

“Upon sensing that I meet the criteria, and after examining the information of astronauts who have already been a part of the mission in the past year, within a period of some two-three weeks, I’ve decided to apply for the program,” he defined.

Stating that he didn’t foresee his choice regardless of finishing all of the phases of the choice course of with ease, Gezeravcı famous that he couldn’t share the news of his being chosen for the duty – acquired from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBITAK) vice chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil – owing to a confidentiality clause.

Pointing out that the house mission is deliberate for the final quarter of 2023, Gezeravcı famous that an itinerary shall be issued within the close to future. He additionally famous that the six-month interval stuffed with academic actions lay forward of them, including that there are lots of particulars and facets of the coaching that shock them.

Reiterating {that a} 14-day keep is deliberate for the mission, Gezeravcı added that the launch for the house mission is scheduled on the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and that experiments chosen by TÜBITAK shall be carried out on this course of.

Stating that he feels he’s ready for the mission and assured, Gezeravcı mentioned, “There will be a chance to experience the dynamics of movement without gravity, besides an environment with minimal gravity called ‘microgravity’, which we are not accustomed to; but I do not see any of these as challenging.”

Space expectations

Saying that it is “extremely gratifying” to be the primary house traveler for the nation, Gezeravcı famous he expects this primary step undertaken “to be a starting step in our history that we will be proud of”, including that he hopes that within the later interval, Türkiye would participate in bigger house initiatives, assuming a place of not only a participant however as one having a say as nicely.”

Tuva Cihangir Atasever, speaking mentioned his dream of house journey and its eventual materialization.

Noting that his journey commenced in 2014 and that he strived to be part of the journey in low earth orbit en path to the moon, Atasever mentioned the fateful determination allowed him to pursue the house mission.

“When the National Space Program was announced and a Turkish space traveler would be selected, I had already made up my mind to apply,” he mentioned.

Recalling that it was thrilling, he famous that he had utilized in May 2022 whereas additionally noting that the method was prolonged.

“We went through extremely intense and challenging tests and elimination stages. We went through screening processes such as intelligence tests, analytical thinking tests, psychological tests, and then some physical environmental tests and interviews. It was a process that took about 10 months in total. It is amazing to be here as a result,” he maintained.

Informing that they’d principally undergone theoretical coaching for the reason that starting of their coaching within the U.S., Atasever defined that at present, they’re specializing in the evaluation of technical data, and emergency eventualities associated to the automobile they may launch into house, including that extra thrilling coaching course of is anticipated within the upcoming months.

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