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Alper Gezeravcı believes a team of Turkish astronauts will fly into space
Alper Gezeravcı said at the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya that he believes a team made up exclusively of Turkish astronauts will fly into space in the future.
Astronauts attending the 77th International Astronautical Congress in Antalya discussed the future of human spaceflight, space research and international cooperation.
IAC 2026, organized by the International Astronautical Federation, is being held at the NEST Congress Center in Antalya. The congress is being held under the coordination of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, with the participation of the Turkish Space Agency and SAHA Istanbul.
Gezeravcı delivers message on Turkish astronaut team
Alper Gezeravcı, Türkiye's first astronaut, said he believes that a team made up exclusively of Turkish astronauts will fly into space sooner or later.
Gezeravcı said space has always been an area of cooperation and peace, adding that countries have established space forces to build defense capabilities. Recalling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's warning that space should not be turned into a military platform, Gezeravcı called on leading countries to act carefully on the issue for the future of humanity.
Atasever: More advanced research can be conducted
Astronaut Tuva Cihangir Atasever highlighted the importance of human spaceflight in space activities. Atasever said they expect to conduct scientific research until the next human spaceflight, in addition to future flights involving Turkish astronauts.
Atasever said new experiences could be gained under unique conditions such as microgravity, adding that new materials and biotechnology solutions could be developed using free-flying platforms. He said this could create an ecosystem that would enable more advanced research and production efforts.
Astronauts explain the importance of space cooperation
Michael Lopez-Alegria, Axiom Space's chief astronaut and senior vice president responsible for human spaceflight, said that enabling more people to experience the beauty and uniqueness of Earth would strengthen their responsibility to protect the planet.
American astronaut Christopher Williams said the International Space Station, which has been in use for more than 25 years, has been exposed to the impact of micrometeorites, emphasizing the importance of working together as humanity moves toward the future.
Polish astronaut Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski said he felt more inspired and determined to share his experiences in science and technology with younger generations after his spaceflight. Noting that the space economy has become accessible to smaller countries as well, Uznański-Wiśniewski said broad cooperation could enable countries to work together on the future of space technologies.
“Earth is humanity's only spacecraft”
Canadian astronaut Julie Payette said space is an important issue for everyone and that Earth is humanity's “only spacecraft.” Payette said the planet that makes life possible under the harsh conditions of space must be protected.
Japanese astronaut Naoko Yamazaki said space is a symbol of cooperation, teamwork, engineering, research and education. Yamazaki said the era of broader cooperation, including commercial space stations, has begun following the period of the International Space Station.
Describing the organization of the congress in Türkiye as a symbol of international cooperation, Yamazaki said the event was important for creating new opportunities.
At the press conference, American astronauts Andrew J. Feustel and Tim Kopra, along with astronaut candidate Gökhan Erdem, also answered questions from journalists.
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