On election trail, Turkey’s President Erdogan unveils country’s first astronaut

Air force pilot Alper Gezeravci was selected to be the first Turkish citizen in space. His backup is Tuva Cihangir Atasever, 30, an aviation systems engineer

Erdogan made the announcement at the Teknofest aviation and space fair in Istanbul, his first public appearance since falling ill during a TV interview on Tuesday

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, centre, Turkey’s first space traveller candidates Alper Gezeravci, left, and Tuva Cihangir Atasever, at Teknofest, in Istanbul on Saturday. Photo: Handout / Press Office of the Presidency of Turkey / AFP

Published: 2:07am, 30 Apr 2023

Turkey’s first astronaut will travel to the International Space Station by the end of the year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday after an illness forced him to cancel several days of appearances.

Air force pilot Alper Gezeravci, 43, was selected to be the first Turkish citizen in space. His backup is Tuva Cihangir Atasever, 30, an aviation systems engineer at Turkish defence contractor Roketsan.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses his supporters during a rally in Izmir, Turkey on Saturday. Photo: Presidential Press Office / Handout via Reuters

Erdogan made the announcement at the Teknofest aviation and space fair in Istanbul, the president’s first public appearance since falling ill during a television interview on Tuesday. He appeared alongside Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, and Libya’s interim prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh.

“Our friend, who will go on Turkey’s first manned space mission, will stay on the International Space Station for 14 days,” Erdogan said. “Our astronaut will perform 13 different experiments prepared by our country’s esteemed universities and research institutions during this mission.”

Erdogan described Gezeravci as a “heroic Turkish pilot who has achieved significant success in our Air Force Command.”

The Turkish Space Agency website describes Gezeravci as a 21-year air force veteran and F-16 pilot who attended the US Air Force Institute of Technology.