Turkish Journal – Enes Kılıç – In a momentous milestone for its burgeoning space program, Turkey prepares to launch its first manned mission to the International Space Station (ISS) this Thursday, January 18th. Colonel Alper Gezeravci, a decorated pilot in the Turkish Air Force, will join an international crew aboard the Axiom Space Ax-3 mission, marking a significant leap for the nation’s scientific and technological aspirations.
The Ax-3 mission, scheduled for liftoff from Florida at 1:11 am local Turkish time (GMT+3), will carry Gezeravci and his international crewmates – Spanish mission leader Michael López-Alegría, Italian Air Force pilot Walter Villadei, and Marcus Wandt from Sweden representing the European Space Agency – towards their celestial rendezvous. Docking at the ISS is expected around 1:15 pm (GMT+10) on Friday.
Colonel Gezeravci’s two-week stay aboard the ISS will be dedicated to conducting 13 crucial scientific experiments. Ranging from cancer research to studies on immune cells, algae, and propolis.
Turkey’s space mission signifies a strong international collaboration. Axiom Space, a US-based private spaceflight company, provided astronaut training in Houston, Texas, and the flight service for the Ax-3 mission. This partnership reflects a growing trend in global space exploration, where private entities play an increasingly important role alongside national space agencies.
This first manned mission marks just the beginning of Turkey’s ambitious space endeavors. A second suborbital flight, piloted by Turkish systems engineer Tuva Cihangir Atasever, is slated for later this year.
(Fotoğraf: AA Arşiv)
