TÜBİTAK UZAY is the leading organization in the realization of the goals set within the scope of the National Space Program (MUP) with its competence in both research and development activities and project management expertise. The Turkish Astronaut Science Mission (TABM) Project, which was initiated to realize the goal of "sending a Turkish citizen into space for a scientific mission", one of the 10 strategic goals set within the framework of the MUP, was carried out by TÜBİTAK UZAY.
In the documentary “Beyond the Horizon“ , you can find answers to your questions about Türkiye's first crewed space missions.
Astronaut Selection and Training
In order to determine the astronaut who will carry out Turkey's first manned space mission, TÜBİTAK UZAY made an astronaut announcement open to Turkish citizens and this announcement was shared with the public by our President on 23 May 2022. The announcement attracted great interest and as a result of the evaluations made by experts, one main and one reserve astronaut candidate was selected.
Alper Gezeravcı and Tuva Cihangir Atasever started astronaut training in the USA, Japan and Europe in order to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for the mission. The training process lasted approximately 8 months and included extensive sessions on topics such as life on the International Space Station, the operation of spacecraft used during launch and return, and emergency management. In addition, Turkish scientists provided both theoretical and practical training for the experiments to be conducted as part of the project.
The main objective of the Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission Project is to provide Turkish scientists with the opportunity to conduct microgravity research using the infrastructure of the International Space Station.
Accordingly, a Science Mission Call was launched by TÜBİTAK UZAY on June 4, 2022 to determine the experiments to be carried out during the mission. A total of 48 experiment proposals were submitted from 37 universities and research institutions. Axiom Space, an expert in the field of microgravity research with NASA experience, was selected to carry out 13 experiments as a result of the evaluations made by TÜBİTAK UZAY and TUA.
A science mission working team was established within TÜBİTAK UZAY for the coordination and integration of the identified experiments. The necessary arrangements for the implementation of the experiments in the space environment were completed as a result of intensive work with the experiment teams and Axiom Space officials. Two training campaigns were organized, one theoretical in June 2023 and one practical in November 2023. In addition, final preparations were made at Kennedy Space Center before the experiments were loaded onto the launch vehicle.
International Space Station Science Mission
Alper Gezeravcı has been selected as the first Turkish astronaut within the TABM Project. Born in 1979 in Mersin, Alper Gezeravcı graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2001 and received his master's degree in Operations Research in the USA. Serving as an F-16 pilot in the Air Force, Gezeravcı is also an electrical and electronics engineer.
Alper Gezeravcı was sent to the International Space Station on the AX-3 (AXIOM-3) mission. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying the astronaut was launched into space by a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket and docked with the International Space Station at an altitude of approximately 420 km. After 18 days on the International Space Station, Gezeravcı completed Turkey's first manned space science mission and landed on February 9.
Within the scope of the Space Mission, 13 experiments were carried out in microgravity in the fields of biology/ biotechnology, physics, technology and human research.
Suborbital Research Flight Science Mission
Tuva Cihangir Atasever, Turkey's second astronaut, completed a suborbital research flight on Virgin Galactic's "VSS Unity" suborbital vehicle as part of the Turkish Astronaut Science Mission Project. The "Galactic 07" team, including Atasever, took off from the Spaceport facility in New Mexico at 08.30 a.m. local time in the United States and performed a flight lasting approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes with the "VSS Unity" suborbital vehicle. During the flight, the aircraft carrying the "VSS Unity" suborbital vehicle reached an altitude of approximately 14 km and reached an altitude of approximately 90 kilometers by firing its hybrid fuel rocket engine.
Atasever successfully conducted seven scientific experiments in the free-fall phase lasting about 3 minutes in a microgravity environment.
Space Awareness
All activities carried out within the scope of Turkey's first manned space science mission were regularly shared with the public, aiming to raise awareness in the field of space science and technologies in Turkey.
