Alper Gezeravcı's 13 Experiments in Space

Alper Gezeravcı, Turkish Turkish Air Forces military pilot and member of the board of directors of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA). Additionally, on 19 January 2024 at 00:49 (TSI), he was launched into space and became the first Turkish astronaut. Alper Gezeravcı conducted 13 different science experiments on the International Space Station (ISS), prepared by Turkish experiment. These experiments cover areas such as micro place gravity and the space environment, including human genetics, human health and biology like.

^{13 Experiments Conducted by Alper Gezeravcı in Space -}Anadolu Agency

1. EXTRAMOPHYTE

Growing plants in space is crucial for meeting food and oxygen needs on planned lunar and Moon Martian bases as well as during missions to these outposts. Additionally, plants will be necessary for recycling human-generated wastewater in space. Therefore, efficiently cultivating plants under space conditions is vital for life support systems used in space missions. However, the low gravity environment of space and the journey itself pose significant stress to living organisms brought from Earth.

Previously, it had never been studied whether extremophiles—plants capable of surviving and thriving under harsh environmental conditions such as high temperatures, heavy metal pollution, drought or salinity—could maintain their stress adaptation traits in the space environment.

In this experiment, the tolerance of Schrenkiella parvula, a plant endemic to Salt Lake and belonging to the Brassicaceae family, alongside Arabidopsis thaliana (mouse-ear cress), was tested to determine whether their high salt tolerance could be sustained under microgravity.

Additionally, the physiological and molecular responses of salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant plants to salt stress under microgravity were compared.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Ege University – Prof. Dr. İsmail Türkan 

2. CRISPR-GEM

For humanity’s future in space, a sustainable system must be established for long-duration space missions. Efficient plant cultivation in space is one of the most critical steps to overcome this major challenge, as plants form the backbone of controlled ecological life support systems that can provide food and oxygen during extended missions.

Enhancing plant health and productivity in space through improved nutrition and oxygen supply is a critical area of research supporting this goal. The CRISPR-GEM project aims to cultivate healthier and more productive plants in space.

Living organisms possess genes—code-like structures inherited across generations—that play essential roles in sustaining life processes. CRISPR is a technique that enables modifications to genes. In CRISPR technology, specially designed RNA and RNA-protein complexes are used to target specific genetic changes.

In this experiment, genetic changes in plants under space and Earth conditions were tested for the first time to evaluate the effectiveness of CRISPR technology in microgravity. The goal was to improve plant health and yield using CRISPR, thereby making a significant contribution to humanity’s space exploration efforts.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Yıldız Technical University – Tuğçe Celayir 

3. UYNA

The production of next-generation medium- and high-entropy alloys, which offer advantages such as resistance to high temperatures and physical loads compared to traditional materials, is highly important for space, aerospace and defense industry industries.

The experiment generated data to support the production of next-generation space alloys—typically composed of four or more elements in equal or near-equal close atomic ratios.

In the experiment targeting the production of heat-resistant, high-strength alloys, the effects of a microgravity environment on thermophysical properties such as density and thermal conductivity coefficient (a measure of how well a material conducts heat based on its structure) and solidification processes were investigated.

This experiment aims to significantly contribute to Türkiye’s capability to develop next-generation materials for its space, aerospace and defense industries.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: TÜBİTAK MAM – Dr. Ömür Can Odabaş 

4. gMETAL

This experiment observed the effect of microgravity on the formation of a homogeneous mixture between solid particles (typically solid particles with diameters smaller than a millimeter) and the fluid medium in which they are suspended under chemically inert conditions.

The goal of this study is to improve the efficiency of propulsion systems in spacecraft.

Positive results from the experiment are expected to not only facilitate Mars missions but also provide an additional energy source for energy production on the Martian surface. This is anticipated to accelerate the development of the space economy.

The findings of the experiment also hold potential for contributing to the search for sustainable energy sources on Earth. Metal particles that do not produce greenhouse gases during combustion, and therefore do not contribute to global warming, can be converted into energy in a manner compatible with a circular economy, offering humanity a second alternative to hydrogen for摆脱能源依赖.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: TÜBİTAK MAM – Prof. Dr. İskender Gökalp / Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil 

5. UzMAn

Microalgae are small plants living in aquatic environments. Microalgae can adapt to harsh conditions on Earth and possess significant potential for space life support systems due to their ability to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.

In the UzMan experiment, growth and resilience tests were conducted on microalgal species adapted to harsh conditions under low gravity, enabling the analysis of metabolism changes, determination of carbon dioxide (CO₂) capture performance, and assessment of oxygen (O₂) production production capacity.

Microalgal samples returned from the space station to Earth will be analyzed using RNA sequencing techniques. This analysis is expected to provide the scientific community with new insights into how microalgal metabolism changes under space conditions.

Based on data obtained from this experiment, TÜBİTAK MAM plans to develop a life support system in collaboration with Boğaziçi University—systems that enable astronauts to survive in space.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Boğaziçi University – Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Berat Haznedaroğlu – TÜBİTAK MAM 

6. PRANET

Propolis is a substance collected by honey bees from plant resins, leaf and buds, mixed with wax and resin. Bees use propolis to sterilize their hives and insulate them from the external environment.

In the PRANET experiment, the effect of propolis on bacteria under low-gravity conditions was investigated. Once results from control and experimental groups are analyzed, it will be determined whether propolis produces similar effects in low-gravity environments as it does on Earth.

If propolis is found to remain effective against bacteria under low-gravity conditions, it will be recognized as a viable natural antibacterial for use in space missions.

This experiment also aims to generate new information regarding the microbial flora aboard the International Space Station.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Muş Science and Art Center – Birsen Geçer 

^{Muş Science and Art Center -} TÜBİTAK Science Young

7. METABOLOM

Spaceflight is one of the most physically demanding activities for the human body. Astronauts are exposed to numerous environmental stressors during space missions. These include high g-forces during launch, microgravity, space radiation, variations in oxygen levels, sleep circadian rhythm disruption, sleep disorders and altered physical activity—just a few of the challenges faced.

The METABOLOM experiment aims to identify the effects of space conditions on human health by analyzing blood, urine and saliva samples collected from Turkish astronauts and studied in Türkiye.

The data obtained are expected to help identify key possible risk factors affecting astronaut health.

This research also marks the first step toward establishing a molecular data bank to support future studies in Türkiye in the fields of microgravity physiology, aerospace and space medicine.

The findings of this research are also believed to contribute to the development of new treatments and preventive measures for existing diseases.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Ankara University – Prof. Dr. Emel Emregül 

^{Alper Gezeravcı Conducting Experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) -}Anadolu Agency

8. MİYELOİD

Chronic inflammation is a slow-developing inflammatory response lasting more than five to six weeks, triggered by the immune system’s reaction to unwanted substances. Chronic inflammation can trigger numerous disease such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart, sugar and kidney disease.

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are cells produced in high quantities during chronic inflammatory processes such as cancer. They suppress the immune system and promote cancer progression and spread.

The MIYELİD experiment will determine how various harsh factors experienced by astronauts—including ultraviolet radiation, galactic cosmic rays (a high-energy particle shower originating from outside the Solar System, from stars or even distant galaxies), changes in gravity, inhaled air and ambient conditions, duration of travel and length of stay in space—affect the astronauts’ immune systems and hematopoiesis.

Changes in the immune system will be studied specifically in myeloid-type blood cells. Comparisons of the characteristics and functions of these cells before flight and after return will reveal the potential effects of space travel on immune-related diseases such as cancer. The results are expected to represent a global first in scientific literature.

This experiment may also enable the development of countermeasures to mitigate potential negative effects of space travel on the immune system. With Alper Gezeravcı’s return from space, the first phase of the research has begun, but additional space missions will be required to complete it.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Hacettepe University – Prof. Dr. Güneş Esendağlı 

9. MESSAGE

Understanding how astronauts’ immune systems respond during long space journeys and during colonization of Mars and the Moon is essential for ensuring their health.

The MESSAGE experiment seeks to determine how the immune system responds to microgravity conditions and how it adapts as the duration of space exposure increases. Answers to these questions aim to improve astronaut health protection and strengthen plans for space colonization.

Through this experiment, we will gain a better understanding of the fundamental aspects of life in space that affect human health, enabling more confident planning of long-duration space missions. Samples collected from Alper Gezeravcı form the first phase of this research.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Üsküdar University – Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Cihan Taştan 

10. MİYOKA

During the first lead-free soldering experiment conducted in microgravity, our first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı, performed lead-free component assembly on an electronic circuit board aboard the International Space Station.

The electronic circuit boards returned to Earth will be analyzed at TÜBİTAK SPACE Institute, and the results regarding the effects of microgravity on lead-free soldering will be made available to researchers in relevant fields.

Through the MİYOKA experiment:

* Crucial data will be provided to the space and defense industries regarding lead-free soldering,

* Research on tin whisker formation on Pure tin will be conducted,

* Production processes planned for microgravity environments will be accelerated.

The gains from the MİYOKA experiment will support the development of capabilities for electronic rework, repair and modification required for future long-duration human exploration missions.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: TÜBİTAK SPACE – Hakan Asan 

11. OXYGEN SATURATION

Oxygen saturation refers to the level of oxygen in the blood. In healthy individuals, typical oxygen saturation levels range from 95% to 100%. In individuals with Lung disorders, this values may be slightly lower.

Early diagnosis is vital in disease treatment. This experiment, with the aid of Artificial intelligence support, measured oxygen levels in the supplied air to identify differences and health issues caused by microgravity.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Nişantaşı University – Oğuzhan Aydemir 

12. VOKALKORD

In the VOKALKORD experiment, voice frequency changes were analyzed using artificial intelligence to detect physiological disorders, and the effects of microgravity on the human voice were studied.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Haliç University – Prof. Dr. Gökhan Aydemir 

13. ALGALSPACE

Algae are aquatic organisms capable of photosynthesis. Microalgae are algae visible only through microscope.

In the ALGALSPACE experiment, comparative cultivation was performed between extremophilic microalgae—collected during Türkiye’s National Polar Science Expeditions and adapted to extreme environmental conditions such as temperature, pH, salinity and UV radiation—and microalgae adapted to temperate conditions, under space conditions.

To date, no studies have been conducted on extremophilic microalgae in space. This experiment, for the first time, cultivated microalgae samples collected from Türkiye’s Antarctic research station under space conditions and compared them with microalgae adapted to temperate conditions.

Microalgae

Implementing renewable and sustainable production of algae for space missions will yield significant benefits for food, health and environment sectors both in space and on Earth.

High-value products derived from algae are also critically important for economic and bio-economic development.

Responsible Institution and Project Manager: Yıldız Technical University – Prof. Dr. Didem Özçimen