Gökmen Space and Aviation Education Center (GUHEM)

Gökmen Space and Aviation Education Center (GUHEM) is a science center established in Türkiye to connect space and aviation-related initiatives with the public. The center aims to increase young generations’ interest in these fields, guide their scientific curiosity, and contribute to educational processes.

GUHEM is not limited to exhibition spaces; it also features interactive installations, hands-on workshops, and educational programs, making it a multifaceted institution that supports learning. With this characteristic, it holds the distinction of being Türkiye’s first comprehensive center dedicated to space and aviation themes.

Constructed under the leadership of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) in collaboration with the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK), the Gökmen Space and Aviation Education Center (GUHEM) is defined as Türkiye’s first interactive center focused on space, with a covered area of approximately 13,000 square meters. An investment of 200 million Turkish Lira was made for its construction, with 80 million Turkish Lira in support provided by TÜBİTAK.^【1】 The center constitutes a structurally significant example at the national level in terms of its physical scale and scope.

The design of GUHEM was not intended solely to provide visual and interactive experiences for visitors; rather, it was planned as a multifunctional facility integrating research, applied education, and technological learning. Through laboratories, educational workshops, thematic exhibition areas, and interactive installations within the center, individuals of all age groups are systematically supported in acquiring knowledge about space and aviation.

As an education- and experience-oriented facility, GUHEM provides an environment designed to foster scientific curiosity and inquiry skills among young generations. Its multifunctional character extends beyond being merely an exhibition space, encompassing infrastructure that enables research projects to be conducted, practical experiments to be carried out, and various educational modules to be implemented.

GUHEM was established to direct young generations toward scientific research and to contribute to the development of domestic and national technologies.

The center facilitates public access to knowledge in the fields of space, aviation, and technology, offering particularly inspiring learning and discovery environments for youth. Operating in alignment with Türkiye’s National Space Program and its ten strategic objectives, GUHEM has developed a comprehensive educational and experiential infrastructure.

Within this framework, the center includes the following facilities:

• 154 interactive installations
• Aviation Education Center
• Space Innovation Laboratory
• Chemistry and Biology Laboratory
• Mathematics, Robotics Coding, Space and Aviation Workshops

^{First Section of the Aviation Wing (}GUHEM⁾

During the establishment of the Gökmen Space and Aviation Education Center (GUHEM), the goal was to strengthen Türkiye’s strategic position in space and aviation. Ibrahim Burkay, founding chairman of GUHEM, stated that the center was not designed merely as an exhibition space but as an environment where young people can learn, conduct research, and apply their knowledge.^【2】

The statement emphasized that the center’s core objectives include fostering scientific curiosity among youth, increasing their interest in space and aviation technologies, and encouraging specialization in these fields. It was also highlighted that the center was planned in alignment with the strategic goals outlined in Türkiye’s National Space Program.

GUHEM, one of the macro-projects announced by BTSO in 2013, was planned to meet this need. The project aims to position Türkiye more effectively in the field of space and aviation technologies. With its original architecture, GUHEM is regarded as one of the largest in Europe and among the few major centers of its kind worldwide.

In 2019, it received an award in the “Public Buildings” category at the European Real Estate Awards, gaining international attention. The ultimate goal of the project is for GUHEM to rank among the top institutions in Europe and to be recognized as one of the world’s top five space and aviation centers.

An event where astronauts and cosmonauts met with young people at GUHEM took place on 27 September 2023 at the Osmangazi Hall of the Bursa Merinos Atatürk Congress and Culture Center. This event was organized as part of the Planetary Congress held between 25 and 29 September 2023.

As a center visited by international astronauts and cosmonauts, GUHEM has become an important platform for increasing young people’s interest in space science. During their visit, Rusty Schweickart, an American astronaut who participated in the Apollo 9 mission, and Victor Glover, selected by NASA for the Artemis 2 mission, experienced GUHEM’s educational infrastructure and interactive installations.

At the meeting, the astronauts interacted with young attendees, shared their space experiences, and answered questions posed by students. The event, moderated by GUHEM’s General Director Halit Mirahmetoğlu, was attended by approximately 1,700 people in the Osmangazi Hall and over 60,000 viewers via online platforms.

During their visit, the astronauts explored the center’s practical educational infrastructure by experiencing lunar simulation and flight simulators. This event has been recorded as a significant opportunity that enhances young people’s interest in space technologies and supports their learning processes.

^{Meeting of Astronauts and Cosmonauts (}GUHEM⁾