Türkiye excitedly followed its first space journey

The journey of the first Turkish astronaut, Col. Alper Gezeravcı, sent to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the "first manned space mission" within the National Space Program, was closely followed from almost every part of Türkiye.

A child is seen playing with a toy spacecraft as citizens count down to witness history in their homes before blasting off for the International Space Station (ISS) with the Axiom Mission 3 crew.

Gezeravcı's journey, which marks Türkiye's first manned space mission, was watched by citizens at the large domed planetarium in Taksim Square in Istanbul, organized by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. The journey was also followed by Selçuk Bayraktar, chair of the board of Baykar, Istanbul Governor Davut Gül and Beyoğlu Mayor Haydar Ali Yıldız.