ISTANBUL - Turkey's first astronaut, Alper Gezeravci, received a warm welcome upon his return home from a three-week mission to the International Space Station. Greeted by children with bouquets at Ankara's Esenboga Airport, Gezeravci was hailed as a symbol of Turkey's advancements in technology and aerospace.
During his mission, Gezeravci proudly carried Turkish flags with him into space, which he distributed upon his arrival back in Turkey. His voyage, organized by Houston-based Axiom Space in collaboration with NASA and SpaceX, has been closely followed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He has hailed it as a testament to Turkey's growing strength and assertiveness, particularly in light of the country's centenary celebration last year.
