Astronauts from Turkey, Italy, and Sweden concluded a private three-week trip to the International Space Station by returning to Earth on Friday. The trio, accompanied by a retired NASA astronaut now working for Axiom Space, touched down in a SpaceX capsule that landed in the Atlantic off the Florida coast. Alper Gezeravci’s launch from Cape Canaveral last month was celebrated in Turkey, making him the first person from the country to travel to space.
The space journey also included Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, Sweden’s Marcus Wandt, and Michael Lopez-Alegria as their escort. The mission was financed by Turkey, Italy, and Sweden, each contributing approximately $55 million. This was Axiom’s third private mission to the space station, with the next one planned for later this year.
Before leaving the space station, Gezeravci expressed gratitude to his country for the decision to send a citizen into space as part of its 100th anniversary as a republic. During their time in orbit, the astronauts conducted scientific experiments, engaged with schoolchildren and officials from their countries, and waited for improved weather conditions in the splashdown zone.
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