📩 02/10/2023 15:12
Bursa hosted an important organization that will go down in history regarding space and aviation. 19 astronauts and cosmonauts from 70 countries came to Bursa for 5 days, hosted by GUHEM, Turkey's first space and aviation-themed interactive training center by Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO), and Bursa Business School, which was brought to the city as a reference training center for the business world. also met. Scientists who came to Bursa for the Planetary Congress of the Association of Space Explorers (ASE) visited GUHEM, one of the world's leading space and aviation centers. At the 'Science Meeting', nearly 60 thousand students participated physically and online and listened to the experiences of astronauts and cosmonauts in space.
GUHEM, Turkey's first space aviation-themed interactive training center, organized an important event that will go down in history. GUHEM, which was implemented in cooperation with BTSO and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and with the support of Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, hosted the Planetary Congress organized by ASE, the Space Explorers Association. At the congress held in Bursa between 25 and 29 September, astronauts and cosmonauts who made a name for themselves with their work in space made important efforts to increase space awareness.
Over 19 Astronauts from 70 Countries
At the congress, from American Victor Grover, the pilot of the vehicle that will go to lunar orbit with the Artemis II mission, to Chinese Junlong Fei, who spent a total of 191 days in space in two missions, from Russian Cosmonaut Sergei Andeev, who spent 747 days in space, to Astronaut Julie Payette, former Governor General of Canada. More than 19 astronauts from 70 countries, as well as pioneers in space studies, attended. The technical sessions of the event, which brought together the world's most prestigious names in the field, were held at Bursa Business School Uludağ Campus, the training and development center of the business world established by BTSO. Our country hosted the congress for the first time, which was opened on Monday, September 25, with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır, as well as protocols and scientists.
Space was discussed in Bursa
At the summit, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Important names such as Hasan Mandal, TUA President Serdar Hüseyin Yıldırım, Türksat CEO Hüseyin Ertok, Plan-S CEO Tugay Güzel, TÜBİTAK Space Institute Deputy Director Alime Yıldırım and Delta V General Manager Arif Karabeyoğlu also shared their knowledge and experiences in the technical sessions. The congress, which included important names in the field of space and aviation, played an important role in introducing Bursa to the world.
Turkey's First Space Travelers were also in Bursa
Turkey's first space travelers Alper Gezeravcı and Tuva Atasever met with space enthusiasts within the scope of Turkey's Future Projection session within the scope of the events. In addition, world-famous astronauts such as Michael Lopez Alegria, Thomas Marshburn, Fei Junlong, John D. Olivas, Anton Shkaplerov, Denis Matveev and Sergey Korsakov took part in the New Space Economy and Studies in Earth Orbit and Beyond sessions.
Theme Befitting the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Turkey: "Future is in the Sky"
The theme of this great organization held in Bursa on the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey was determined based on the words of the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, "The Future is in the Sky". In the unique organization, which is a historical congress for the country, many activities such as science and society meetings, seminars, interviews and student meetings on online platforms were held for 5 days, as well as technical sessions on space.
Astronauts and Cosmonauts in GUHEM
Astronauts and cosmonauts also visited GUHEM, one of the world's space-themed training centers in its field, within the scope of the Bursa program. Astronauts who tested interactive mechanisms and flight simulators expressed their admiration for GUHEM, saying, "There is no such center in the world." Scientists also met with students during their visit to GUHEM.
Giant Meeting of 60 Thousand People
Astronauts also met with citizens and students at Merinos Atatürk Congress and Culture Center Osmangazi Hall within the scope of 'Science-Society' events. The organization, which lasted 2 hours, was followed by 1.700 people physically and 60 thousand people on online platforms. In the program, astronauts and cosmonauts shared their knowledge and experiences about space with the participants.
Order of Leonov to Burkay
At the event, BTSO Chairman İbrahim Burkay received the Leonov Order, one of the highest awards given by ASE, from Association of Space Explorers ASE President Reinhold Ewald. Planetary Congress will be held in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, next year. Ismail Akbay from Bursa, NASA's first Turkish Engineer, was not forgotten at the closing ceremony of the event. Akbay's niece Nazlı Varol received the award given in memory of İsmail Akbay.
A History-Making Organization Was Signed
BTSO Chairman of the Board of Directors, İbrahim Burkay, said that they have carried out important work to raise awareness about space and aviation technologies since the day he took office in 2013. Stating that there is a great competition in the field of space in the world and that they are taking steps to ensure that Bursa's business world does not miss this transformation process, Burkay stated that they also wish to raise this awareness in the new generation. Stating that the most important outcome of the work they started with the vision of 'Why Should Turkey's Gökmen Not Come Out of Bursa' is GUHEM, which was implemented in partnership with TÜBİTAK and Bursa Metropolitan Municipality, Burkay stated that the center continues its work with the mission of training qualified human resources in the field of space and aviation. Stating that GUHEM, which was established in Bursa as Europe's largest space, aviation and experience center in its field, has made a name for itself with qualified organizations that make an impact at the international level, İbrahim Burkay said that a giant program such as the Planetary Congress has come to Bursa thanks to the efforts of GUHEM. He said he was brought in.
“Contributed to the Promotion of Türkiye and Bursa”
Pointing out that very few people have had the chance to cross the border of space so far, BTSO Chairman Burkay said, “We have dreams for Bursa. We believe that Bursa will achieve new successes in space and aviation. The fact that world-famous astronauts and cosmonauts are in Bursa is a result of these efforts. Scientists were with us in Bursa for 5 days with the organization of GUHEM and Bursa Business School. The fact that the summit of this international association on space studies, which has been held in different countries for 39 years, was held in Bursa offered the opportunity to evaluate experiences and innovative studies on space studies. This summit is of great importance in terms of increasing the awareness of our young people in the field of space and aviation. "The congress we hosted with the main theme of 'The Future is in the Sky' on the 100th anniversary of our Republic also made a significant contribution to the promotion of our city and country." said.