Jay Trimble, who has been actively working on the Moon at NASA at Izmir University of Economics, and Rector of Izmir University of Economics, Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar and Dr. in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, who worked in the field of orbital mechanics at NASA and settled in Turkey. Instructor ‘NASA’s Space Travel Conference’ was held with the participation of its member, Fabrizio Pinto. Dr. Professor Pinto evaluated the warning from NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office that the asteroid, about the size of an Olympic swimming pool, whose movements have been tracked since the beginning of February, will pass at the closest distance to Earth in 23 years and have a potential impact probability.
“NO SITUATION TO CONCERN”
Dr. Pinto said, “There are ongoing studies at NASA regarding the risk of a large asteroid, a space object hitting the earth in the future. Within the scope of these studies, a new technology has recently been developed. To cause a collision by releasing a special spacecraft on the celestial body and save the world by changing the orbit of the celestial body with this collision. This is an application that can be implemented at the moment. I can assure you that humanity has mathematical calculations that can predict such a collision. There is nothing to worry about. All these calculations are based on probabilities. “Such a risk does not exist at the moment,” he said.
‘It is said to pass 3 million kilometers away’
Stating that the studies on the approach of space objects to our world continue in very different parts of the world, Dr. Lecturer Pinto said, “Space is constantly being scanned and objects that are at risk of hitting the earth are tried to be detected. These studies are now normal. The trajectory of all kinds of space objects and the probability of hitting the earth are calculated. Accordingly, precautions are taken when necessary. At this point, unfortunately, there has been a sensation especially in the international media. “We see that there are news in order to create news. The risk of a stadium-sized meteor hitting the earth is mentioned, but when you go into detail, it is said that this meteor will pass 3 million kilometers from the earth,” he said.
‘SPACE STUDIES IN TURKEY ARE EXTREMELY GOOD’
On the other hand, evaluating the conference, Dr. Pinto said, “It was a very happy conference for us. We were very impressed with the enthusiasm of the students. It has been a very promising event for Turkey’s future work in the field of space. Space studies in Turkey are going quite well. Considering that America’s first manned space studies took place in the 1960s, Turkey’s situation and pace of progress are at a very good level,” he said.
‘MANNED SPACE VEHICLE WILL GO TO THE MOON IN 2025’
NASA employee Jay Trimble, who met with the students, said, “The first lunar project was the project ‘Apollo’ in 1960 and its main purpose was to set foot on the moon. The main difference of the Artemis projects from the Apollo projects is the realization of space missions with a more permanent, more concrete perspective. Artemis-1 atmosphere It was carried out as an external emission. It includes the first manned spacecraft Artemis-2, which is planned to be launched next year. We plan to set foot on the moon and create a permanent human presence there in the next stages. I am very pleased to meet with the students in Turkey today. I was very impressed with the excitement of the children “The first manned spacecraft is planned to land on the moon in 2025. The whole process allows for the development of many industries. It will be of great benefit to humanity,” he said.
‘TURKEY WILL SHOW ITS TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERIENCE TO THE WORLD’
Izmir University of Economics Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Aşkar said, “We have now come to a very important point in the development of national technologies. We had many satellites named ‘Türksat’ before. At this stage, we have started to design them with Turkish companies. At the beginning of 2025, we will have sent the first satellite of the domestic Türksat chain into space. The satellite “To be able to produce and operate technologies is another power. Turkey will show the world that it has this technological know-how. The lunar program is also planned to be implemented next year. Very detailed pictures will be taken about space,” he said. (DHA)