Within the National Space Program, the scientific projects that Turkish space travelers Alper Gezeravcı and Tuva Cihangir Atasever will research on the International Space Station have been determined. One of the 13 announced projects to go into space is the 'Message (Microgravity Associated Genetics) Science Mission' developed by Üsküdar Üniversitesi TRGENMER.
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Üsküdar Üniversitesi TRGENMER's project selected as space traveler!
In the 100th year of the Republic of Turkey, there will be a Turk in space
In 2023, the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, a Turkish astronaut will conduct research on the projects determined at the International Space Station. At TEKNOFEST, Turkey's Space, Aviation, and Technology Festival, one primary and one backup name for space travel were announced. Accordingly, Turkish space travelers Alper Gezeravcı and Tuva Cihangir Atasever (Backup) will be among the team that will carry out 13 different experiments prepared by universities and research institutions on the International Space Station for approximately two weeks.
13 scientific projects to go into space announced
Following the announcement of the two individuals who will be space travelers in 2023 within the scope of the National Space Program, the experiments to be carried out within the program were announced. One of the experiments to be performed by Turkish astronauts, who will focus on 13 projects for 14 days on the International Space Station, is the 'Message (Microgravity Associated Genetics) Science Mission' project developed by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Transgenic Cell Technologies and Epigenetic Application and Research Center (TRGENMER). The project, put forth by Üsküdar Üniversitesi TRGENMER researchers, will be taken to the International Space Station by Turkish space travelers Alper Gezeravcı and Tuva Cihangir Atasever.
The project draws attention to an important area for our future in space
Research applications to go into space were evaluated by a commission consisting of experts from TÜBİTAK, TUA, and Axiom Space. It is known that criteria such as scientific contribution, value, cost, timeline, feasibility, and compatibility with International Space Station infrastructures were influential in project selection.
Among the projects determined after long reviews, the 'Microgravity Associated Genetics Science Mission/Microgravity Related Genetic Science Mission' experiment developed by Üsküdar TRGENMER Researchers; Büşra Tekirdağlı, Özge Demir, Ebru Çam, Fatmanur Erkek, Berranur Sert, and Gamze Gülden, was selected as a space traveler.
The project draws attention to a very important area for our future in space. Project Manager Dr. Lecturer Cihan Taştan stated with the experiment; 'We aim to analyze the genetic profile of our Turkish Astronaut and investigate the anti-cancer, proliferation, and immunogenic effects in an Acoustic Levitation Device that provides a microgravity environment. It is aimed to identify genes whose functions have not yet been discovered that are affected by the microgravity environment, and to determine which immune cells will be directly affected by gravity during space missions, using CRISPR gene engineering methods.'
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Update Date: March 02, 2026
Creation Date: May 09, 2023