Turkey Sets Date to Send Its First Astronaut to Space

Turkey's Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacir, announced the date on which Turkey's first astronaut will be sent to the International Space Station. The minister stated, "The first Turkish astronaut, Alper Gözderici, will ascend to the International Space Station on January 9, 2024. This mission is of great importance in showcasing Turkey's scientific and technological capabilities. Alper Gözderici has completed his special training for the flight and will soon undergo quarantine before the trip. The astronaut is scheduled to conduct 13 scientific experiments in space." The minister noted that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had announced in April last year two candidates selected for the trip to the International Space Station, chosen from among 36,000 people, with the selection made by experts from Turkey's space program and research institutes alongside specialists from the American company Axiom Space. Additionally, the American space agency NASA had announced in September the crew names for the "Ax-3" mission that will be sent to the International Space Station, specifying that the flight will be led by their astronaut, Michael Lopez-Alegria, assisted by Italian astronaut Walter Villadei. The mission will also include Swedish astronaut Marcus Wandt and Alper Gözderici, the first astronaut in Turkey's history to go to space.