Türkiye’s first astronaut arrived again dwelling to a hero’s welcome on Monday, simply days after he returned to Earth after efficiently finishing the nation’s inaugural area mission.
Alper Gezeravcı was greeted by bouquet-laden kids at Ankara’s Esenboğa Airport as he returned from a three-week mission to the International Space Station (ISS). In return, he handed out Turkish flags he had carried with him into area.
Türkiye celebrated Gezeravcı’s launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 19 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. A former fighter pilot and captain for Turkish Airlines (THY), he turned the primary individual from his nation to fly to area.
The Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) crew docked on the ISS on Jan. 20. The spacecraft undocked final Wednesday for a visit again that lasted round 47 hours.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carrying Gezeravcı and three different members splashed down into the Atlantic off the coast of Florida on Friday.
The journey marked the third such journey organized by Houston-based Axiom Space with NASA and SpaceX.
The expedition is seen in Türkiye as a supply of nationwide pleasure and a spotlight of its technological development, particularly within the area of aerospace and army growth comparable to aerial drones.
The area flight was “just a beginning,” stated Gezeravcı, addressing journalists at Esenboğa in entrance of a backdrop proclaiming “Türkiye’s First Manned Space Mission.”
“I returned to my country with the happiness of achieving goals that have surpassed the limits we could see with our eyes in the sky, which have been the dreams’ boundaries until now,” he stated.
Gezeravcı highlighted that the achievement was not only a journey however a milestone for Türkiye’s area ambitions.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has carefully adopted Gezeravcı’s mission, declaring it a “new symbol of a growing, stronger and assertive Türkiye,” after the nation marked its centenary final yr.
Erdoğan has spoken a number of occasions to Gezeravcı since he left for Florida to arrange for the mission.
Hours after his arrival, Gezeravcı and his household have been acquired by Erdoğan at Esenboğa.
Speaking alongside Gezeravcı, Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated the mission was “a first, but it will not be the last.”
“A new page has been opened in space science and technologies for Türkiye,” Kacır stated.
Gezeravcı was joined on the journey by Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei and Sweden’s Marcus Wandt, a former fighter pilot. They have been escorted by retired NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who now works for Axiom Space.
While in orbit, the astronauts carried out about 30 science experiments, studying extra in regards to the affect of microgravity on the human physique, advancing industrial processes and extra. They additionally chatted with schoolchildren and officers from their nations.
About half of the experiments have been carried out by Gezeravcı alone.
The mission was initially meant to final two weeks, however the return journey was delayed by a number of days owing to dangerous climate, leading to an 18-day keep on the ISS.
Erdoğan stated after the crew landed that Türkiye would ship many extra individuals to area.
The journey is a part of Türkiye’s bold 10-year area highway map, unveiled in early 2021, together with missions to the moon and creating internationally viable satellite tv for pc techniques.
Türkiye established its personal area company in 2018, and stated it is going to land on the moon by 2026.
The program envisages working with different nations to construct a spaceport and create a world satellite tv for pc expertise model.
The solely factor Türkiye has been lacking till now, Gezeravcı stated, was “our failure to realize the high potential given to us by the noble blood flowing in our veins.”
“With the strong steps taken by our state, we have raised the self-confidence we deserve. From now on, we will continue to move forward with even faster steps,” he famous.
The astronaut emphasised he wouldn’t hesitate to participate in future area missions.
“I came to these days with the education and opportunities my state has provided me with. From now on, I am at the disposal of my state,” he harassed.
Gezeravcı hailed and thanked Erdoğan and different authorities for his or her help all through the entire course of.
“Despite not having had any previous missions in this field in our history, we went through a wonderful preparatory process with the magnificent synergy of our institutions from the preparation phase until the completion of the mission,” he stated.
“Being able to experience and achieve such great successes even in areas where this country has never been before has given a tremendous confidence boost for future missions.”
Gezeravcı emphasised it was not only a area journey. “It was an experience that made me feel the power, determination, and strong stance toward achieving the set goals of my country,” he stated.
“This is not an individual success. It is the success of each child from every household in Türkiye.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com