Alper Gezeravcı (born 2 December 1979) is a military pilot and the first Turkish astronaut. He flew to International Space Station by taking part in a special space flight on 18 January 2024 with the Axiom Mission 3 (or Ax-3) mission.

Early life

He was born in Silifke, Mersin, to a family of Yörük descent.[1]

Colonel Pilot Alper Gezeravcı was among the soldiers expelled from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in 2012 as part of the investigation into the FETÖ's espionage conspiracy in Izmir. He was acquitted and cleared in 2020, subsequently returning to the TSK.[2][better source needed]

Career

Takeoff of the Falcon 9 spacecraft carrying the crew
The Dragon Freedom spacecraft carrying the crew approaches the International Space Station

His appointment was announced in late April 2023 by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.[3] Gezeravcı spent 21 days in space as part of the Axiom Space-3 mission in January-February 2024. He flew with three other international astronauts from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon, launched by the Falcon 9 rocket.[4] Gezeravcı brought along the Turkish flag, family photos, and some items related to Yörük culture.[5]

Alper Gezeravcı's first words in space, with a reference to the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, were "The future is in the skies."[6]

He studied electronic engineering at the Turkish Air Force Academy and also studied at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio. He is a pilot in the Turkish Air Force, with 21 years of experience; he flies F-16s.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Silifke'de heyecan dorukta: Yörük çocuğu uzaya gidiyor". www.ntv.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  2. ^ "İlk Türk astronot Alper Gezeravcı, kumpas davasında TSK'dan ihraç edilmiş". VeryansınTV (in Turkish). 18 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Erdogan inaugure le TEKNOFEST et dévoile le nom du premier astronaute turc qui participera à une mission dans l'espace". Anadolu News Agency. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Erdogan unveils Turkey's first astronaut on election trail". AP News n. 29 April 2023. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Alper Gezeravcı: Türkiye'nin ilk insanlı uzay görevi hakkında neler biliniyor?". BBC News Türkçe (in Turkish). 16 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Gezeravcı'nın uzaydaki ilk sözü: İstikbal göklerdedir". www.trthaber.com (in Turkish). 19 January 2024. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  7. ^ "TÜBİTAK Bilim Genç | Güncel Bilim ve Teknoloji Haberleri, Popüler Bilim Yazıları, Deneyler, Etkinlikler, Projeler, Kodlama | Popüler Bilimin Dijital Adresi". TÜBİTAK Bilim Genç (in Turkish). Retrieved 10 December 2023.