A historic moment unfolded on Thursday as Türkiye's first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı, along with three crew members, embarked on a journey to the International Space Station (ISS). President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his excitement, calling it a significant milestone for the country.
The crew, part of the Axiom-3 mission, rode a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The planned 36-hour flight to the ISS began about an hour before sunset.
Gezeravcı, representing Türkiye, is joined by a Swedish and an Italian astronaut, both with military pilot backgrounds. A retired NASA astronaut, now with Axiom Space, accompanies them on this private flight.
Their capsule is expected to dock with the ISS early on Saturday, where they will spend two weeks conducting experiments, engaging with schoolchildren, and marveling at Earth's views before returning home.
In his first remarks from orbit, Gezeravcı quoted Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, stating, "The future is in the skies," highlighting the importance of this mission for Türkiye's next centennial.
Erdoğan, who presented Gezeravcı to the Turkish public last year, emphasized the mission's significance in a video message. He sees it as a step into Türkiye's second century, inspiring young minds and continuing the nation's contributions to science.
The Axiom-3 mission aligns with Türkiye's National Space Program announced in 2021. The crew includes Sweden's Marcus Wandt and Italy's Col. Walter Villadei, representing their countries and Europe.
Aside from scientific experiments, symbolic items on board include a Nobel Prize medal from Sweden, fusilli pasta from Italy, and tokens of Türkiye's nomadic culture.
Michael Lopez-Alegria, escorting his second SpaceX Dragon flight, shared the unique privilege of space travel, calling it "a real privilege for anybody to fly in space."
The Crew Dragon is set to reach the ISS on Saturday, marking Axiom Space's third journey with NASA and SpaceX in the past two years. The mission charges at least $55 million per astronaut seat.
Türkiye's Presidential Communications Director Fahrettin Altun called it a milestone, realizing a dream anticipated for years. Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır believes Gezeravcı's journey will positively impact Türkiye's society.
The Axiom-3 mission exemplifies the increasing global presence in Earth's orbit for prestige, military strength, and satellite communications. Türkiye, as an applicant for EU membership, joins the ISS-guest countries with Gezeravcı's debut spaceflight.
The ISS, launched in 1998, has been continuously occupied since 2000, with plans to retire around 2030. Axiom, aiming to replace the ISS, is among companies building a commercial space station.
Yusuf Kıraç, president of the Turkish Space Agency, expressed Türkiye's anticipation, stating, "Today is a milestone for us, but it will continue. Our moon program, sending our people with our launch systems, is our main goal."
Hasan Mandal, head of TÜBITAK, called it a historic day, marking a mission that will leave a lasting impact on Türkiye's history in the Century of Türkiye.
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