What Will Turkish Astronaut Alper Gezeravcı Do in Space?

With the National Space Program launched by the Turkish Space Agency in 2021; Turkish scientists and astronauts’ international visibility in space is targeted.

With the launch of the National Space Program, among those who are candidates for space travel, the two names chosen, It was announced at TEKNOFEST 2023. Let’s start by remembering who our selected astronauts are.

From F-16 piloting to space travel;

Alper Gezeravcı, who will be the first Turk to go into space; Born on December 2, 1979 in Mersin, Air Force Academy Electronic Engineering graduated from the department. an experienced one F-16 pilot.

Tuva Cihangir Atasever, who is with him in case of any problems and to be more ready for the next trips, is 31 years old and a graduate of Bilkent University, Electrical and Electronics Engineering. Roketsan engineer.

A distant look at the small blue speck;

First, our astronaut Alper Gezeravcı will go to the International Space Station and according to the news of the Anadolu Agency. in the second half of the year We will send Tuva Cihangir Atasever to suborbital space.

Let’s get to know the team that will make a trip far beyond what we have experienced. Axiom Mission, Ax-3 for short; It will take Turkish, Italian, Spanish and Swedish astronauts to the International Space Station to conduct research.

Axiom Space, Falcon 9x shuttle and Dragon capsule:

Axiom Space company, which has previously made two commercial space flights, will make the first flight consisting entirely of European citizens with AX-3. Former NASA astronaut who is on the board of directors of Axiom company Michael López-Alegríawill be the captain of the journey.

The team of our astronaut, Falcon 9x shuttle and Dragon capsuleIt will take you to the International Space Station. The Falcon 9x shuttle has the ability to be carried away and used over and over again.

What will the journey be like?

From Kennedy Space Center After takeoff, the Dragon capsule will separate from the launch rocket. Once the engines are fired, communication links will be established and when there is 7.5 km left to the station, the engines will be fired for the last time.

If there are no changes or disruptions, it will successfully connect to the International Space Station port on January 19, 13.15. 14 days of research The adventure will begin.

From nomad culture items to experimental equipment;

Apart from the experimental equipment, Gezeravcı, who stated in his interview with Anadolu Agency that Silifke comes from the nomad culture, also prepared locally prepared products. handcraft symbols He said he would take it with him. He added that he would take with him photos of his family and the crest of the air force squadron in which he first served.

Let’s summarize the eight experiments to be performed;

CRISPR; It is a scientific technique used in genetic and medical research to add, remove and change the sequence of DNA. The aim is to evaluate the salt stress tolerance of two plants to be grown on the International Space Station. of the study, development of more resistant plants for agriculture It is thought that it will contribute to measuring the adaptation of plants to extreme environments.

In the experiment, the characteristics of new and medium entropy alloys will be examined. Your results in a wide range from medicine to automotive It is anticipated that it will contribute to the development of the materials used.

TÜBİTAK UZAY is the sponsor of this project, as well as the experiment on salt stress. It will be investigated how gravity affects two different mixtures. Zero carbon energy production and it is thought that it will provide developments in creating propulsion with carbon dioxide in the Martian atmosphere.

Another study in the TÜBİTAK UZAY portfolio; It is about the changes in gene expression in immune system T cells collected from an astronaut in microgravity. Producing immune cells through gene changes The aim is that the team can also use it to measure the immune systems of passengers who are more ready for space flights.

A space traveler’s flight is a stressful experience, and the changes need to be profiled to better understand the impact of physiological changes on the body. Space medicine, gravitational physiology The aim is to collect data so that our scientists working in fields such as can develop best practices.

Used by bees to make hives propolis extract A STEM project that investigates what antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects can do on bacteria in a zero-gravity environment. Revealing the research of the project Students aged 13-14If they prove the effect of propolis on bacteria in space, they will be able to pioneer future studies on natural product-based cleaning agents.

Research on algae that are frequently used in space travel; It will open the door to developments that may affect everything from recycling waste to temperature regulation of spacecraft, and Fertilizer production of plants grown in space will be able to provide.

Vocalcord experiment; artificial intelligence technology from people’s breathing, speaking and coughing sounds disease detection aims to be able to do it. It is aimed to develop the diagnosis and definitions of diseases such as lung cancer and vocal cord disorders with an artificial intelligence software that will be used worldwide.

The meaning of the coat of arms;

The coat of arms to be on the uniform; our flag, the symbol of the 100th anniversary of the republic, the stars symbolizing the 16 Turkish states, octagonal Seljuk star and on the world map Türkiye marked in turquoise is available.

We end our content by wishing success to our astronaut and our country and with the words of Gezeravcı:

“This is not a story of getting somewhere, it is the starting point of a story.”

Sources: Axiom Space, Anadolu Agency, Turkish Space Agency

You may be interested in our space content: