Alper Gezeravcı was born on 2 December 1979 in Silifke district of Mersin and became the first person from Türkiye to undertake human spaceflight. A military pilot of engineer origin, Gezeravcı successfully became Türkiye’s first astronaut in 2024 by traveling to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) mission. The child of a Yörük family, Gezeravcı spent his childhood in various cities across Türkiye due to his family’s assignments.

Educational Background and Early Career

Gezeravcı’s career foundation was built on military discipline and engineering education. He entered Işıklar Military High School in 1993 and was admitted to the Electronics Engineering department at Air War School in Istanbul in 1997. After graduating in 2001, he began his service as a war pilot in the Turkish Air Forces and flew numerous aircraft including the F-16, T-41, SF-260, T-37, T-38, F-5 and KC-135 like.

Continuing his piloting career not only in the military but also in civil aviation, Gezeravcı served for seven years as a captain pilot for Turkish Airlines. He completed his master’s degree at the Air Force Technology Institute at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, USA, specializing in operation research.

Roles and Experience in the Turkish Air Forces

Gezeravcı was not only a pilot but also assumed leadership roles as an instructor and evaluator. Most recently, he served as the Academic Wing Commander of the Standardization Squadron at the 10th Base Command in Adana, overseeing training, inspection and standardization processes for the fleet.

Also known for his passion for Sports and love of nature, Gezeravcı is skilled in many areas including scuba diving, sail, camping, mountaineering and at riding. He successfully completed numerous survival and demanding mission training exercises during his military education.

Türkiye’s First Astronaut

In 2023, he was selected as Türkiye’s first astronaut from thousands of candidates under the “Turkish Space Traveler and Space Mission” project announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. After rigorous selection and training, on 19 January 2024, he embarked on a journey to the ISS aboard Axiom Space-3’s Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX.

During his 21 day stay aboard the International Space Station, Gezeravcı successfully conducted 13 scientific experiments that enhanced Türkiye’s prestige and contributed to the global scientific community. He carried with him Turkish flag, photographs of his family and symbols of Yörük culture, adding a personal dimension to this historic mission.

Scientific Experiments Conducted

During his mission, Alper Gezeravcı did not serve merely as a symbolic representative but worked as a scientist. Some of his experiments include:

• Mieloid: Effects of space radiation on the immune system and blood cells.
• Extremophyte: Responses of Schrenkiella parvula, an endemic plant from Tuz Gölü, to the space environment.
• Algalspace: Use of algae in water and air systems in space.
• Pranet & Gmetal: Behavior of next-generation materials for defense industry applications in space.

Through these efforts, Türkiye obtained its first scientific data from a human space mission.

Return and Aftermath

Following two delays to the return journey, Gezeravcı and his crew returned to World on 9 February 2024, achieving a successful splashdown in the Atlas Ocean. With 250 kg of shipping brought back from the ISS, together made significant contributions to Türkiye’s space science and was honored with a grand welcome ceremony upon his return.

On 12 September 2024, he was appointed to the newly established Space Command within the Turkish Air Forces, assuming a more active role in Türkiye’s military and civilian space projects. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Türkiye Space Agency (TUA).

TUA return photo. (TUA)

Beyond the Horizon: Documentary of Türkiye’s First Human Space Mission

On the first anniversary of Türkiye’s first human space mission, during which its first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı signed off on 13 diverse experiments spanning biology, medicine, materials science and genetic, a special documentary was produced.

Source of Inspiration and Future Vision

In interviews, Alper Gezeravcı frequently recalls Atatürk’s words, “The future is in the skies,” emphasizing that Türkiye’s journey into space will not end with this first step and that the younger generation will achieve even greater accomplishments in this field. The information, experience and observations he gained during his 21-day mission continue to serve as guiding examples for future generations.