Istanbul: A former NASA official has praised Turkey's space achievements, expressing optimism that the country will send more astronauts into orbit following its first two spaceflights in 2024.

According to Anadolu Agency, Kimberly Robinson, who is also the chief executive of the US Space and Rocket Center, highlighted Turkey's entry into space exploration during an interview at Turkey's premier aviation, space, and technology festival, TEKNOFEST. She stated, "I believe 53 countries have gone into space, and I just welcome Turkey coming into space with the rest of us."

Turkey marked a milestone by sending Col. Alper Gezeravci to the International Space Station as part of Axiom Space's Ax-3 mission in January 2024, marking its first manned spaceflight. In June, Tuva Cihangir Atasever became the country's second space traveler on Virgin Galactic's suborbital Galactic 07 flight. Robinson, who met the Axiom crew in the US, expressed hope that this will be a growing trend, resulting in more Turkish astronauts in the future.

Robinson believes the world is experiencing a "second golden age" of space exploration, reminiscent of the era marked by the moon landings in the late 1960s. She expressed excitement about the future of space exploration, noting NASA's ambitious plans to return humans to the moon for extended stays and eventually build the architecture for a mission to Mars.

She emphasized that space exploration is a wonderful endeavor that inspires young people to tackle complex problems and develop technologies that enhance life on Earth. Robinson added, "It increases our prosperity and our quality of life, and I hope that this will continue to encourage the younger generation to get involved in space exploration and other endeavors."

Additionally, Robinson commended TEKNOFEST, held at Istanbul Atatrk Airport, for its role in engaging young people in technology and securing Turkey's future. Organized under the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the T3 Foundation, with Anadolu as its global communication partner, the festival is billed as the world's largest aviation, space, and technology event. Robinson applauded Turkey's efforts to contribute to the new age of space exploration and technology development.