ALBAWABA - Turkey's inaugural astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı, has successfully reached the International Space Station (ISS) aboard SpaceX's Dragon capsule. The docking, witnessed by enthusiasts at Taksim and Kızılay squares, marks a historic achievement. A warm welcome ceremony for the astronauts is set for 15:30 GMT.
In this captivating space odyssey, Alper Gezeravcı is anticipated to share gifts from Turkey with his new station companions. Presently, the ISS hosts a diverse team of seven astronauts from Russia, the United States, Japan, and Denmark. With the addition of Gezeravcı and his team, the station's crew expands to 11. Throughout his 14-day stay, Gezeravcı is geared up to conduct a remarkable array of 13 experiments.
Watch the live stream as the capsule carrying Turkey's first astronaut, Gezeravcı, docks with the International Space Station.
Alper Gezeravcı, a beacon of Turkish pride in space, will intermittently connect with Earth, narrating his cosmic experiences. Following their mission, the astronauts will bid farewell to the ISS in the Dragon capsule, descending into the Atlantic Ocean near Orlando, Florida, with parachutes guiding the descent.
The journey commenced with a profound message from Alper Gezeravcı, expressing, "As the first Turk steps into space for Turkey's maiden manned mission, I want to kick off this moment with the profound words of our visionary leader: 'The future is in the skies,' echoing the wisdom of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Republic of Turkey's founding father." Stay tuned for more updates as this celestial venture unfolds.
