site.btaFirst Turkish Astronaut Ends Successful Space Mission

The first Turkish astronaut Alper Gezeravci was welcomed at Ankara Esenboga Airport on Monday after returning to Earth last week, completing a successful mission to the International Space Station (ISS), CNN Turk reported. The welcoming party included Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir.

The astronaut told journalists that his mission was not his personal success, it was a success for everyone in Turkiye. "That was only the beginning," he said.

Gezeravci performed 13 scientific experiments on the ISS. The mission started with the lift-off on January 19. It included 18 days on the ISS, where Gezeravci and three other astronauts arrived after a 36-hour journey, and ended with the landing on February 9 following a 47-hour return trip.

In 2021 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the start of a USD 6 billion national space programme, which includes training of astronauts and sending a Turkish spacecraft to the Moon.