CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Türkiye achieved a historic milestone on Thursday as its first astronaut, accompanied by three other crew members, embarked on a voyage to the International Space Station (ISS). The launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center marked a significant moment for the country, according to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, riding atop a Falcon 9 rocket, carried the quartet of astronauts on the Axiom-3 mission.
Alper Gezeravcı, a military pilot and the first person from Türkiye to journey into space, was joined by a Swedish astronaut and an Italian astronaut representing their respective homelands. They were accompanied by a retired NASA astronaut from Texas startup Axiom Space, the private company that organized the mission. The crew’s capsule is expected to reach the ISS on Saturday, and they will spend the next two weeks conducting experiments, engaging with students, and marveling at the Earth’s views before returning home.
Gezeravcı expressed his gratitude and excitement, stating, “I’m so privileged and honored to be a part of this great team…This is the beginning of our next centennial.” He emphasized that Türkiye had previously been limited to seeing the sky with their bare eyes, but this mission would open new opportunities for the country.
President Erdoğan also expressed his keen interest in the mission, referring to it as a significant step into the second century of the Türkiye republic. Emphasizing the nation’s contributions to science throughout history, Erdoğan highlighted the inspiration the mission would bring to the young people and children of Türkiye.
The Axiom-3 mission is part of Türkiye’s National Space Program, announced earlier this year. The crew also includes a Swedish astronaut and an Italian Air Force Colonel, both with extensive aviation experience. Symbolic items such as a Nobel Prize medal from Sweden, fusilli pasta from Italy, and artifacts representing Türkiye’s nomadic culture are being taken on the journey.
The Crew Dragon spacecraft, operated autonomously, is set to dock with the ISS, which is currently occupied by seven regular crew members. The voyage, organized by Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, is the company’s third such mission in the past two years. Axiom charges its customers a minimum of $55 million for each astronaut seat.
The Axiom-3 mission includes approximately 30 scientific experiments focused on human health and disease in microgravity. Beyond the scientific objectives, this mission reflects the increasing number of nations entering space to enhance their global prestige, military capabilities, and satellite-based communications.
With this mission, Türkiye joins an exclusive group of countries that have sent astronauts to the ISS. In 2023, Türkiye also plans to launch its own lunar program, furthering its ambitions in space exploration.
The launch of Türkiye’s first astronaut represents a historical moment for the country and paves the way for its future endeavors in space exploration.