Visitor from NASA

Jay Trimble, Mission System Manager at NASA Ames Research Center, met with students at the two-day conference on NASA's Space Travel, organized by Izmir University of Economics (IUE). Answering the questions of high school and university students, Trimble stated that the interest in space missions has increased in many countries of the world and said, “We plan to set foot on the Moon with the Artemis projects and create a permanent human presence there.”

The first day of the event titled, “NASA's Space Travel”, held at IUE Conference Hall on March 13-14 was open to high school students, and the second day was open to university students. Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar, Rector of Izmir University of Economics and Executive Board Member of TUBITAK Space Research Support Group, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Pinto, Member of IUE Faculty of Engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Scientific Advisor to Turkish Space Agency, also delivered presentations in the events attended by approximately 400 high school students and 200 university students.

WILL CONTRIBUTE TO HUMANITY

Jay Trimble, Mission System Manager at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center, pointed out that the first manned flight to the Moon's surface was made with Apollo in 1969. Noting that similar development process will progress faster with Artemis projects, Trimble said, “Artemis I was first carried out as an exo-atmospheric mission with the Orion capsule. It is planned to be implemented next year. Artemis II, on the other hand, includes the manned spacecraft. With the Artemis projects, we plan to set foot on the Moon and create a permanent human presence there. A manned spacecraft is planned to land on the Moon in 2025 as part of the Artemis project.” Stating that they believe that many industries will develop with the work to be done on the Moon and that this will be of great benefit to humanity, Trimble also emphasized that Turkish students were very interested in learning about space.

TURKEY HAS THE NECESSARY TECHNOLOGY

Giving information about the studies in the field of space in Turkey, Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar, Rector of Izmir University of Economics, and Executive Board Member of TUBITAK Space Research Support Group, said, “We have reached an important point in the development of national technologies. I think that we will have sent one of the Türksat chain satellites into space as a domestic production at the end of 2024 or at the beginning of 2025. Turkey will show the world that it has these technologies. Training on sending a Turkish astronaut to the space station will also be completed soon. At the end of the year or at the beginning of next year, Turkish astronauts will go to the ‘International Space Base’ and will be able to do some experiments. Another project carried out by Turkey is to send a satellite to the moon. Entering a certain orbit in interplanetary travel requires significant knowledge. The satellite we will send will enter an orbit around the Moon, and then it will make a hard landing on the Moon's surface. Our satellite will take very detailed pictures about space and collect data on this journey. Turkey has this accumulated knowledge.”

WE ARE IMPRESSED BY THE ENTHUSIASM OF THE STUDENTS

Asst. Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Pinto, Member of IUE Faculty of Engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Scientific Advisor to Turkish Space Agency, said, “We were very impressed with the enthusiasm of the students. It was a very promising event for Turkey's future studies in the field of space. It is very valuable for young people to conduct research in this field and to be interested in space. Considering that America's first manned space studies took place in the 1960s, Turkey's position and progress in space is at a good level.”