Advice to young people from Turkish NASA astrophysicist

NASA astrophysicist Dr. Umut Yıldız said, "As income is generated from space, more companies will be involved in this business in the future, which will increase job opportunities in the sector. I recommend families to encourage their children who are interested in space."

Although his family and people do not like it, Yıldız, who has always had a dominant interest in space, graduated from Ankara University, Department of Astronomy and Space Sciences. After graduating from the Department of Astronomy and Space Sciences, he received his master's degree from Groningen University in the Netherlands and his doctorate from Leiden University in the Netherlands. After going to America, Yıldız started to work at the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and has been working at NASA for 9 years, TRT Haber reports.

Yıldız, one of the few Turkish scientists working at NASA, said that he works in the field of "Deep Space Communications".

Explaining that the existence of the recently established Turkish Space Agency makes him very happy and honored, Yıldız said:

"There is still a lot to be done on this subject. There are things that have been done, for example, there are astrophysics groups under both astronomy departments and physics departments in a few universities in Turkey. This is the science side of the business. However, some people generally want to see something physical. For example, rocket Turkey He wants to launch from Turkey, let space vehicles from Turkey go to space. Space technologies are actually just developing in Turkey, it first started with the defense industry. After the TÜBİTAK-Space Agency did a lot of work. Besides, there are now private space companies in Turkey. "Now, not only governments but also companies with money are involved in this business. For example, companies such as DeltaV, Plan-S and Hello Space in Turkey grow over time and expand the ecosystem."

"Having your own astronaut is a great prestige"

Stating that many countries are sending their own astronauts to space at the moment, Yıldız said, "Unfortunately, we still have not been able to realize this dream as Turkey. It is a great prestige for a country to have its own astronaut. There are already a few countries in the world that put people into space, one of them will be used. Of course, the biggest one is here. One of the questions is, what will the astronaut do there after he goes to space? The aim of the Turkish Space Agency is to carry out the experiments suggested by the researchers at Turkish universities through our own astronaut on the International Space Station." 

Yıldız said that the first astronaut who will go into space from Turkey will stay there for 10 days, realize the projects presented by Turkish researchers, and then share the results of these experiments with the world, according to the Turkish Space Agency.

Emphasizing that he wanted to experience the pleasure of seeing Turkey succeed rather than being the first scientist from Turkey to go into space, Yıldız said, "We have had a dream of space since our childhood, it must be a wonderful thing to look at the world from above and see all the countries in one frame. "I'm not trying to be the first, but I want to do it before I die, even if it's the hundredth or the thousandth. I wish success to the first person who will be lucky." he said.

"I contribute to Turkish students even from a distance"

Pointing out that Turkish astronauts are prominent in public opinion, such as Türkonaut, Göktürk and Gökmen, Yıldız said, "I think the word that everyone knows should be astronaut. After this time, it doesn't make much sense to invent a new word and say 'Use this word'. Since astronaut He was accepted, I think he should continue as an astronaut." 

Noting that he would always be honored to share his experiences with the Turkish space ecosystem, Yıldız continued his words as follows:

"I don't need to come to Turkey to share my experience. I always give lectures to students in Turkey on topics such as space science, space technologies, astronomy, travel to other planets, the discovery of other galaxies and the formation of the universe. Even from afar, I give lectures to students. "I try to contribute as much as I can. However, these are not the works of one person. We are already in contact with the Space Agency, from now on, I hope that many more young people will cross paths with space."

"I recommend families to encourage their children who are interested in space "

Yıldız stated that space sciences and space technologies will be much more popular in the future and that space sciences will be an important alternative for young people who choose a university these days.

Stating that space companies are currently established in many countries around the world, including Turkey, and that these companies make money from space, Yıldız said, "As we earn income from space, more companies will be involved in this business in the future, this will increase job opportunities in the sector and more people will be needed. I recommend parents to encourage their children who are interested in space during the preference period." 

"Space science is one of the most promising sectors"

Explaining that he answered the messages of thousands of students who reached him through social media, Yıldız said, "I couldn't reach anyone at their age, the technological opportunities today did not exist at that time. I was alone, I know very well what the pain of not being able to ask anyone a question about space science means. "I want to help today's students as much as I can. I can say that space is one of the most promising sectors in these days when access to space is much cheaper. Especially right now, it's a preference period, families and young people should especially take this into account." 

Stating that nationality is of no importance at NASA, and that people are evaluated only by the work they do, Yıldız said, "America assigns people from many countries that it thinks are good in a certain field to its research centers. After doing the job well, no one's nationality is looked at."