Türkiye’s first astronaut Alper Gezeravci awarded with gold medal in Sweden

Alper Gezeravci, Türkiye’s first astronaut, was awarded a gold medal by the Swedish Astronomy Youth Association for his successful work in space on Tuesday. The honor was bestowed upon him during a panel discussion held in Stockholm, where Gezeravci and his fellow Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) astronauts—Michael Lopez-Alegria, Walter Villadei, and Marcus Wandt—participated in a session with young space enthusiasts.

The Ax-3 team recently completed Türkiye’s first manned space mission, which involved a journey to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was celebrated during the event, where Gezeravci answered questions from the youth and shared insights from the groundbreaking expedition.

Speaking to the press, Gezeravci expressed his gratitude for the recognition, saying, “This program we carried out for our countries under the Ax-3 mission holds significant meaning and has had a positive impact on the Swedish youth, which is why they honored us with a medal.”

Gezeravci, who plans to stay in Sweden for a few more days to participate in additional programs, reflected on the importance of the mission, which concluded in February. He noted that upon returning to Türkiye, he and his team engaged in intensive outreach efforts, sharing their experiences at various universities and with the public to inspire future generations.

“We held our first meeting in Türkiye between June 2 and 5 with the astronauts who carried out the Ax-3 mission,” Gezeravci added. “We are now holding our second meeting here in Sweden.”