Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission Programme

The Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission programme is TÜBİTAK UZAY’s managed effort to give Turkish researchers access to human-tended microgravity experiments under the National Space Programme. Work includes astronaut selection and preparation, experiment selection, integration, flight execution and follow-up research. Alper Gezeravcı conducted thirteen experiments aboard the International Space Station during Axiom Mission 3 in 2024. Tuva Cihangir Atasever subsequently undertook suborbital research aboard Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 07 flight, with three experiments tended in flight and four associated investigations on the ground. The research portfolio extends beyond those initial flights: TÜBİTAK UZAY reported a second orbital phase of the MIYOKA lead-free-soldering experiment completed in September 2026, with return and comparative ground analysis still to follow.