Türkiye’s 1st space traveler describes life in space with awe

Alper Gezeravcı described his feelings about becoming Türkiye's first space traveler as 'something he has never felt before,' and how seeing the Turkish flag on the space station gives him 'extraordinary happiness and pride.' 'I am incredibly happy to be a part of this very valuable and important mission in which our country and government have put their will forward, and to be able to carry the dreams of our future generations beyond the sky and into the depths of space,' Gezeravcı said from the International Space Station (ISS) via video link while responding to questions of journalists sitting at the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) in Ankara on Sunday. 'MISSION TRANSCENDS IMAGINATION' Following a selection process worthy of this duty, he learned the requirements for an astronaut to carry out the country's first manned space mission. He said they received low-pressure ring and centrifuge training to meet the mission's physiological requirements. While their bodies were subjected to the force of gravity, we developed the physical abilities required to carry out duties. 'POSSIBLE EMERGENCY SCENARIOS IN MIND DURING LAUNCH' 'The moment of launch was incredible. I was mentally rehearsing the reactions and procedures that we would use in possible emergency scenarios, as we might need this information during the mission and need to be prepared for anything at any time,' he said. Some vision problems and immune system weaknesses can occur as a result of the change in pressure in body fluids, though he has not personally experienced this, he said. 12 TO 15 DIFFERENT TASKS A DAY 'In this limited time, I have many scientific experiments and studies to conduct for Turkish scientists, I have to use my time very well and complete all planned activities as we have been preparing for months,' he added. GEZERAVCI MISSES TURKISH CUISINE IN SPACE 'Currently, we have space travelers from seven countries with nine different nationalities working together, and we do some activities together, for instance, we conduct our experiments alone, but we work together and help each other in some of the video and photo shoots that we send back to Earth. We also get together for meals when we are not working on our planned activities,' he said. In terms of meals, Gezeravcı said their dietary routine is the same as it was on Earth, and that they chose what they wanted to eat and drink when they arrived at the orbiting station while in the US in April. 'The main criteria for determining food and beverages were to meet the daily calorie target and to eat healthy,' he said. The press conference was also attended by Turkish Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Ahmet Yozgatlıgil and TUA President Yusuf Kıraç.