Space Camp Turkey, one of the two space camps in the world, opened its renewed facility with a safe and green building concept and its new training program powered by the Aurora Space Vehicle, which NASA will use in manned flights to Mars in the 2030s. In the new training program of the camp, for the first time in Turkey, the opportunity to experience simulations of manned flights to Mars is offered in Izmir.
Aurora Space Vehicle and Flight Mission Simulator, which will carry out the space flights of NASA's Mars missions planned to be carried out in the 2030s, will be used in training programs at Space Camp Turkey in Izmir for the first time in Turkey. The simulator will simulate human space travels to Mars and the Moon with interactive virtual space flights. Equipped with technological innovations, this vehicle will not only offer participants a unique space flight experience, but will also provide important skills such as problem solving, teamwork and time management, adding a new dimension to Space Camp Turkey's space exploration and space technologies education activities.
Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban, Gaziemir District Governor Kudret Kurnaz, Gaziemir Mayor Ünal Işık, ESBAŞ Executive Board Chairman Faruk Güler, ESBAŞ General Manager Yusuf Kılınç, Space Camp Turkey attended the launch ceremony of the Aurora Space Vehicle and Flight Mission Simulator, which took place at Space Camp Turkey in the Aegean Free Zone. Group Manager Tolga Yıldırım and special guests attended.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Izmir Governor Süleyman Elban stated that the Space Camp, which provides young people with a horizon-expanding aspect, has given a horizon to Turkey's space studies and said: "Creating such a camp and establishing such a facility that keeps Atatürk's vision of 'the future is in the skies' alive 100 years ago is a great opportunity for children." to receive education here. We express our gratitude to the late Kaya Tuncer for having such a facility, which does not exist in many countries in the world, in Izmir in our country, and we remember him with mercy. The entire developed world is engaged in serious studies on space. It is very important for us to raise our children in accordance with this vision drawn 100 years ago and to raise this awareness. Therefore, I attach great importance to the fact that this camp creates self-confidence and knowledge in future generations. For this reason, CEO Dr. I would like to thank the entire team of ESBAŞ, including Faruk Güler.”
There is nothing like it in Turkey
ESBAŞ Executive Board Chairman Dr. Faruk Güler stated that the Aurora Spacecraft and Flight Mission Simulator will be put into use in the Galactic Summer Camp Programs, which will be offered specifically for children in the 9-16 age group, and said: "An interactive flight to Mars and the Moon will be carried out with the simulation of the Aurora capsule that NASA will use in the Mars missions it plans to carry out in the 2030s." We are launching virtual space flights. Children who will participate in the program, which will start in June and continue until the end of August, will have the opportunity to experience Turkey's first and only interplanetary flight simulation and simulations of the Mars missions that NASA plans to carry out in the 2030s. They will learn by experiencing human flights to Mars and the Moon. "The simulator will not only provide technical knowledge in line with technological innovations, but will also provide participants with important skills such as problem solving, teamwork and time management," he said.
Emphasizing that Space Camp Turkey, which was founded by the late Kaya Tuncer to broaden the horizons of the world's children and young people by bringing them together with space and space sciences, has hosted 55 thousand children and young people from 275 countries in its educational programs to date. Faruk Güler said: “Space Camp Turkey, which has become a space and science center not only for the children of our country but also for the children of the world, continues to fulfill its mission well. We will continue to follow the developments in space technologies closely and adapt them to our education programs. “In our camp, we guide our students to follow their curiosity about space and science and continue researching until they find satisfactory answers to the questions that occupy their minds.”
Became a Facility Producing Safe and Renewable Electricity
Space Camp Turkey Group Manager Tolga Yıldırım also pointed out that they launched the Aurora Space Vehicle and Flight Mission Simulator on the 87th birthday of the late Kaya Tuncer, the founder of ESBAŞ and Space Camp Turkey. Stating that the innovations they made at Space Camp Turkey are not limited to Aurora, which was added to the training program, Yıldırım said, “During the period we took a break from training, we strengthened our facility in accordance with today's earthquake regulations. We have started using green energy in our facility, which has a safe building concept, in the new period. "We meet the electricity needs of our building with the energy produced by the solar panels we placed on the roof," he said.