Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan throws carnations as he greets folks at Teknofest airshow in Istanbul, Turkey April 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Turkey’s first astronaut will journey to the International Space Station by the top of the 12 months, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned on April 29.
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Air Force pilot Alper Gezeravci, 43, was chosen to be the first Turkish citizen in house. His backup is Tuva Cihangir Atasever, 30, an aviation programs engineer at Turkish protection contractor Roketsan.
Mr. Erdogan made the announcement on the Teknofest aviation and house truthful in Istanbul, the president’s first public look since falling unwell throughout a TV interview on April 25. 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,” Mr. Erdogan mentioned. “Our astronaut will perform 13 different experiments prepared by our country’s esteemed universities and research institutions during this mission.”
Mr. Erdogan described Mr. Gezeravci as a “heroic Turkish pilot who has achieved significant success in our Air Force Command.”
The Turkish Space Agency web site describes Mr. Gezeravci as a 21-year air power veteran and F-16 pilot who attended the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology.
Wearing a crimson flight jacket, Mr. Erdogan appeared in sturdy well being as he addressed crowds on the competition. Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 14, and opinion polls present Mr. Erdogan in probably his hardest race since he got here to energy twenty years in the past.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, accompanied by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, greets folks at Teknofest airshow in Istanbul, Turkey April 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
Reuters
Turkey is coping with a chronic financial downturn, and the federal government obtained criticism after a February earthquake killed greater than 50,000 within the nation. Experts blamed the excessive demise toll partly on shoddy building and regulation enforcement of constructing codes.
While campaigning for reelection, Mr. Erdogan has unveiled various prestigious initiatives, akin to Turkey’s first nuclear energy plant and the supply of pure gasoline from Black Sea reserves.
