Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır stated that they will further carry Turkey's capacity to carry out scientific research in the field of space with new international collaborations in manned space missions in the coming period and said, "For a Turkey that is assertive in science and technology and offers competitive products and services in high technology fields, “We will make the most of the opportunities it offers.” said.
Minister Kacır held a press conference at the ministry with the participation of Turkey's second astronaut Tuva Cihangir Atasever and Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı, who returned home after the "suborbital research flight". Stating that Atasever successfully completed the suborbital research flight and returned to the country, Kacır said, “Atasever added a new moment to the pride of the Turkish people. He wrote his name in history in golden letters by proudly carrying the Turkish and Azerbaijani flags in space with the motto 'One nation, two states'. Atasever's mother is Azerbaijani Turk. With the keffiyeh he carried with him, he announced to the world the suffering of the Palestinian people and the children of Gaza. He said to him, 'Welcome to your homeland, Turkey.' I say." he said.
NATIONAL SPACE PROGRAM
Kacır said that when the National Space Program was announced, the most striking goal was the "Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission". Reminding that they called for the selection of two astronauts who will fly the Turkish flag in space and carry out scientific research in line with this mission, Kacır said, “Our Turkish Air Force pilot Gezeravcı and Atasever, who previously worked as an avionics system engineer at our national defense industry company ROKETSAN for 5 years, are our country's "They were selected as our two astronauts to represent in the historic space mission and received the training provided for the space mission." said.
SCIENCE MISSION
Kacır reminded that Gezeravcı successfully carried out his scientific mission. Kacır explained that the successful completion of the first manned science mission by Gezeravcı enabled the second astronaut Atasever to carry out the suborbital research flight without creating any additional costs, as stated in the project agreements, and added: "Atasever's suborbital flight is also a part of the same mission." said.
7 DIFFERENT EXPERIMENTS
Kacır reminded that VMS, the aircraft responsible for raising the spacecraft carrying Atasever to the desired altitude, took off from the Spaceport facilities in the US state of New Mexico on June 8, at 17.30, and stated that Atasever performed 7 different experiments with different equipment and experiment sets attached to his body. .
NEW COLLABORATIONS
Stating that three of these are continuations of the experiments carried out by the first astronaut Gezeravcı at the International Space Station, Kacır said, “Our suborbital research flight allowed the scope of the experiments to be expanded. In the coming period, we will further advance our country's capacity to carry out scientific research in space with new international collaborations in manned space missions. In line with our 'National Technology Move' vision, we will continue to make the most of the opportunities presented by paradigm shifts for our country's technology development competencies. At the beginning of the 21st century, the era called 'New Space' began with the participation of private sector companies in this race and the significant decrease in launch costs. The cheaper and more widespread access to space has accelerated studies in the field of space. “It strengthened the motivation to take strong advantage of the economic opportunities provided by space.” he said.
SPACE ECONOMY
Kacır emphasized that space research lies behind innovative projects in many fields from agriculture to transportation, from health to energy, and said, “We will make the most of the opportunities offered by space for a Turkey that is assertive in science and technology and offers competitive products and services in high technology fields. We will increase our R&D and innovation competencies in this field and transform our existing competencies into economic value. We sent our local and national communication satellite Türksat 6A, the highest value technological product ever produced in our country's history, to the launch base last week. Our satellite will be launched in the week of July 8, after the final checks. We will create our national satellite brand for the strategic security of our country by gathering the competence and infrastructure created in the public sector under one roof with both our communication satellite Türksat 6A and imaging satellite projects. We will implement the national production program for low orbit satellites. We will support public, academic and private sector projects in this field. By continuing to implement the National Space Program with determination, we will ensure that Turkey is among the countries that have a say in this field. "We will increase our share of the global space economy with the Space Technology Development Zone we will establish in Ankara and the steps that will take our space industry further."
SPACE PORT
Stating that they will further expand the Turkish space ecosystem, which has flourished in the last 22 years with technology startups, research centers and manufacturing industry, Kacır stated that they will continue projects to develop launch rockets and will establish a spaceport with international cooperation by 2030.
MONTH PROGRAM
Minister Kacır also mentioned that they will realize the Moon Program and explained that they will reach the Moon with a spacecraft designed and produced by their own engineers and scientists, with a propulsion system developed with national resources. Underlining that they will have the most advanced telescope in the region by completing the Eastern Anatolian Observatory project, which they are establishing for advanced space observations under the umbrella of the Turkish National Observatories, Kacır said, "The world's largest aviation, space and technology festival, TEKNOFEST, will host space with its sky observation festivals, education and entrepreneurship programs." We will strengthen our human resources in science and technologies. We will continue to increase social interest in the field of space. "By bringing the achievements we have achieved in space studies to our nation, we will ensure that these studies continue to be embraced by the public at the highest level." he said.
TEKNOFEST GENERATION
Kacır noted the following: The interest of our young people in the science missions carried out by our two astronauts shows that Turkish children, the TEKNOFEST generation, will carry out scientific and technological studies that will enable us to look to the future with hope in order to make the second century of our Republic the Turkey Century. To our President, who erases the helplessness that has been taught and learned in our country and carries our nation's dreams beyond the horizon, into the depths of space; I would like to express my gratitude to our beloved nation for their prayers and support on this path.”
“I CAN SAY I WAS BORN AGAIN”
Emphasizing that his first duty during the time he spent in the microgravity environment was to carry out scientific experiments and carry out related operations, Atasever said, “Then I unfastened my belt and began to fly and glide almost without wings in those microgravity conditions. The purpose of the BEACON experiment, which measured my brain activity, was to reveal the traces of changes in astronauts' brains when they saw the world from that point. Therefore, from the moment I started floating, I was actually heading towards the window. I left myself to the view of the world that is very difficult to describe. It is truly an experience that is very difficult to convey and explain; seeing the world from that point and experiencing it while in a state of floating... Mevlana said, 'The world is renewed with every breath.' I can say that on June 8, I climbed to an altitude of 90 kilometers in the spacecraft and took a very deep breath in that very short time, actually opened my eyes to a brand new world and was reborn. Therefore, I can't wait to share this treasure, this experience that I have gained after this process, with our young people, to pass it on to them, to enable them to take more ambitious steps than the first steps we have taken.” he said.
Turkey's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı stated that they have achieved the "Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission", which is one of the goals set by Turkey in the field of space for the new century, and said, "We will be proud and proud in the future of the project, which continues in its own calendar and planning of 9 more targets set in the field of space." We look forward to experiencing their happiness.” said.
