Alper Gezeravcı: ‘We Are Working to Send a Rocket to the Moon’

The first Turkish astronaut to go into space, a military pilot in the Turkish Air Force and a member of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Space Agency, Alper Gezeravcı, met with young people as part of the TEKNOFEST Mediterranean organized in Antalya. Gezeravcı emphasized that Turkey’s goal is to deliver a rocket to the surface of the Moon, saying, “We are working on planning a rocket that will make a soft entry to the surface of the Moon and operate that unit there. And the system for this is currently being carried out by a Turkish professor who has returned to our country from abroad through a reverse brain drain and has signed exceptional studies in his field.”

Speaking at the finals of the Mediterranean Technology Competitions of the Aviation, Space and Technology Festival (TEKNOFEST), the first Turkish astronaut in space, Alper Gezeravcı, gave advice to festival visitors who came to listen to him. Drawing attention to the rapid steps taken after the establishment of the Turkish Space Agency in 2018, Gezeravcı said that Turkey has concrete goals that are down to earth, accessible and reachable.

“We plan to deliver a rocket to the surface of the Moon”

Gezeravcı said, “Our work continues within the scope of the lunar research program. As the Republic of Turkey, we are working on a project that will carry a rocket we have made to the Moon with a system we have made and an engine between 2026-2028. If our current goal was to just make a tour around the Moon and set the record back, we are at the point where we can achieve this goal with the opportunities we have today. However, our goal is not that simple, we are not planning to make a tour around the Moon and come back, we are planning to deliver a rocket to the surface of the Moon. We are working on a rocket plan that will send a rocket to the Moon, which continues to move continuously in its own orbit and the orbit of the Earth, with a very specific plan, first make a hard landing, that is, crash into a planned point on the Moon’s surface, and then make a soft entry to the Moon’s surface with a rover or a scientific unit on a second expedition with the experience gained from this and operate that unit there. And the system for this is currently being developed by a Turkish scientist who has returned to our country from abroad through reverse brain drain and has undertaken exceptional work in his field. “It is run by our teacher,” he said.

“Don’t let anyone label your self-confidence”

Alper Gezeravcı, who frequently gave advice to young people during his speech, concluded his speech as follows:

“My humble advice to you is; if only one person has done something before me, I can do it too, I have no hesitation in doing it. Remind yourself often, no one knows you better than you when it comes to assessing your potential. Do not allow anyone from outside to assess your potential, do not allow anyone to label your self-confidence. If someone has done something before you, rest assured that you can do it too.” – ANTALYA