First Turkish astronaut travels to space, Erdogan wishes him luck

(Patria) - The first space traveler from the Republic of Turkiye is expected to launch into orbit tonight, specifically at 01:11 local time.

Colonel and F-16 pilot of the Turkish Air Force Alper Gezeravci will head to the International Space Station with the crew of Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3). The Ax-3 crew will be launched from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Gezeravci, who will carry the flag with the crescent and star into space, will participate in 13 different scientific experiments on the International Space Station during the two-week Ax-3 mission.

In a recent interview, he stated that his journey will "carry the dreams of the Turkish people into the depths of space."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared a message on his X account wishing the first Turkish astronaut success in his scientific work.

“We consider the first Turkish astronaut, whom we will send off into space at 01:11, as a symbol of an ambitious Turkiye that is growing and becoming stronger,” Erdogan emphasized.

Turkiye selected Gezeravci, an F-16 pilot of the Turkish Air Force, as its first potential space traveler during TEKNOFEST in Istanbul in April 2023.

The Turkish Space Agency was established in 2018, while the country's space program and a crewed space mission were announced a year later.

The crew is expected to dock at the International Space Station on January 19 at 13:15 hours.