Atasever returned to Turkey after his “suborbital research flight” as part of the Turkish space research mission.
At the press conference held at the Ministry of Industry and Technology, attended by Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır and astronaut Alper Gezeravcı, Atasever expressed his joy at the task he had undertaken.
Atasever stated that as a child, he never dreamed of becoming an astronaut, and when he understood the change and transformation that people experience when they view the world from space, the subject of space began to blossom in him like a dream. Atasever emphasized that this dream motivated him to work at ROKETSAN, saying:
“In 2017, I started working at the Space Systems Directorate as a systems engineer responsible for the avionics systems of the national launch vehicle we are developing. When I started working, Turkey was working on sending a probe rocket into space. The moment I touched the body of the system launched from Sinop, I experienced the same experience I had until then. It was one of the most fascinating moments when I had the opportunity to actually work on other systems developed by Turkey. On the path to the national launch vehicle, it has always been close to my heart to work on Turkey's larger projects related to space in order to contribute to Turkey's space ecosystem and economy, which will increase exponentially in the coming years, to the maximum share.”
“I was excited like a kid in an amusement park”
Atasever stated that the moment that excited him most after the establishment of the Turkish Space Agency and the announcement of the National Space Program was when he heard that a Turkish citizen would be sent to the International Space Station (ISS).
Atasever stated that from that moment on, he was eagerly awaiting the moment when applications would begin, saying that he applied without any doubt and that after an intensive selection process, he had the chance to be selected as one of the two Turkish astronauts.
Referring to the eight months of training they received in this process, Atasever said he was “as excited as a kid at an amusement park” in obtaining this information.
Atasever described the training period as his “happiest time” and said that during this time he had the opportunity to follow astronaut Alper Gezeravcı’s successful scientific studies on the ISS, visit science centers on Earth and meet young people.
Atasever explained that explaining this experience to young people in their language, which they may never have experienced before, opens windows and doors in their imagination.
Ataever recalled that he had conducted seven scientific experiments during his mission on June 8 following this process, stating that three of them flew into space with him in his flight suit and the other four were experiments on human physiology.
Atasever explained that by analyzing some of the biological samples he collected during the flight week and shortly before and after the flight, researchers will have the opportunity to conduct research on special topics such as genetics, metabolic changes, differentiation in cancer cells and extracellular vesicles.
Emphasizing that they will thus contribute to space science both in Turkey and in the world, Atasever stated that he became flight-ready by completing the training he received until the launch, as well as conducting experimental studies and various studies to familiarize himself with the vehicle.
“I was reborn”
Atasever emphasized that his first task during his time in microgravity was to conduct scientific experiments and related operations, saying:
“Then I unbuckled my belt and started flying and gliding in these microgravity conditions as if I were wingless. The purpose of the BEACON experiment, which measured my brain activity, was to uncover the traces of change in the brains of astronauts when they were floating. Therefore, from the moment I started gliding, I actually faced the window. “The description of the world is very detailed.” I surrendered to the sight that is difficult to convey and explain. Experiencing the world from this point and experiencing it while floating… “The world is renewing itself with every breath,” Mevlana said on June 8 in the spacecraft at an altitude of 90 kilometers. I can say that I took a very deep breath. In this very short time, I actually opened my eyes to a completely new world, I was reborn. That is why I can share this treasure and experience that I have gained after this process with our young people, transmit it to them and enable them to do so. “I can't wait to share it with them.”
Atasever thanked President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Minister Kacır and the Turkish nation for making this process a reality.
First Turkish astronaut Alper Gezeravcı stated that they have achieved the “Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission”, which is one of Turkey's goals in the field of space for the new century, and said, “We will be proud and proud of this project, which continues its own schedule and planning and sets 9 more goals in the space field.” “We look forward to witnessing their happiness,” said.
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