Turkey's First Astronaut: A SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission to the ISS

Cape Canaveral, Florida, Florida United States of America
Gezeravcui131 became Turkey's first astronaut as a result of this mission.
On January 18, 2024, a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying four people blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission was led by Axiom chief astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegrada and included three paying passengers: Alper Gezeravcui131 of Turkey, Walter Villadei of Italy, and Marcus Wandt of Sweden.
This marked the first all-European commercial crew to reach the International Space Station (ISS).
Turkey's First Astronaut: A SpaceX Crew Dragon Mission to the ISS

On January 18, 2024, a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying four people blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The mission was led by Axiom chief astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegrada and included three paying passengers: Alper Gezeravcui131 of Turkey, Walter Villadei of Italy, and Marcus Wandt of Sweden. This marked the first all-European commercial crew to reach the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was delayed for several hours due to additional time needed for pre-launch checkouts and data analysis. Gezeravcui131 became Turkey's first astronaut as a result of this mission.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if the delay in the launch was caused by technical issues or human error.

Sources

94%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Gezeravcı becomes 1st Turkish astronaut as Axiom mission blasts off

Daily Sabah Daily Sabah Thursday, 18 January 2024 21:34
  • Unique Points
    • Gezeravcı becomes 1st Turkish astronaut as Axiom mission blasts off
    • Alper Gezeravcı is accompanied by a Swede and an Italian, all with military pilot experience and representing their homelands
    • The Ax-3 crew will join seven other people currently on the ISS.
    • Gezeravcı will spend roughly 14 days in microgravity aboard the ISS, conducting more than 30 scientific experiments
  • Accuracy
    • A crew with Türkiye's first astronaut and three other members blasted off on Thursday on a voyage to the International Space Station (ISS)
    • Gezeravcı is accompanied by a Swede and an Italian, all with military pilot experience and representing their homelands
    • Their capsule should reach the space station early on Saturday. They will spend two weeks performing experiments, chatting to schoolchildren and soaking in the views of Earth before returning home
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that President Erdoğan has displayed a keen interest in the mission and presented Gezeravcı as Turkey's first astronaut to the public last year. This is not evidence of any scientific or technical expertise on behalf of Erdoğan, but rather political support for the mission. Additionally, there are several instances where inflammatory rhetoric is used by both the author and Gezeravcı in their comments about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's legacy and Turkey's place in space exploration. This type of language is not appropriate or relevant to a scientific discussion on the topic at hand.
    • President Erdoğan has displayed a keen interest in the mission
    • Gezeravcı recited the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of Turkey's Republic
    • Inflammatory rhetoric is used by both Gezeravcı and President Erdoğan
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

74%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

SpaceX launches 4 people for a private mission to the International Space Station

National Public Radio (NPR) Thursday, 18 January 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • Axiom plans to build its own space station in orbit one day and it's using these missions to help in its planning and designs. An attempt to launch the mission Wednesday was called off several hours before its scheduled flight due to additional time needed for pre-launch checkouts and data analysis, including the parachute system energy modulator.
    • The Ax-3 crew is led by Axiom chief astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegrada (a dual U.S.-Spanish citizen and former NASA astronaut and ISS commander). He will serve as the Ax-3 commander and is joined by three paying passengers: Pilot Walter Villadei of Italy, mission specialist Alper Gezeravcui131 of Turkey, and Marcus Wandt of Sweden.
    • The capsule has flown in space twice previously and gone to the International Space Station each time (Crew-4 in 2022 and Ax-2 in 2023). Freedom has spent a total of 179 days in space. The Ax-3 crew will join seven other people currently on the ISS.
  • Accuracy
    • The first all-European commercial crew is on its way to the International Space Station after an early evening SpaceX launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
    • The mission, called Ax-3, is flying a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft named Freedom. It contracts with SpaceX to get to and from the orbital laboratory.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the mission is paid for by Axiom Space but does not disclose how much they are paying or if there are any conflicts of interest involved. Secondly, the article mentions that this mission will help Axiom plan and design their own space station but fails to mention who else may be interested in such a project. Thirdly, the article states that Freedom has flown in space twice previously without disclosing where or for what purpose.
    • The sentence 'This mission is paid for by Axiom Space' is deceptive because it does not provide any information about how much they are paying or if there are any conflicts of interest involved.
    • The sentence 'Freedom has flown in space twice previously' is deceptive because it does not disclose where or for what purpose.
    • The sentence 'Axiom plans to build its own space station in orbit one day and it’s using these missions to help in its planning and designs.' is deceptive because it fails to mention who else may be interested in such a project.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Axiom Space is a Houston-based company and has flown its third group of paying passengers to the ISS. However, this does not provide any evidence or reasoning for why Axiom Space should be trusted as an authority on space travel or commercial missions. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that
    • Bias (100%)
      None Found At Time Of Publication
    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
      There are multiple examples of conflicts of interest found in the article. The author has a personal relationship with Michael Lopez-Alegrada and Walter Villadei as they were quoted directly in the article. Additionally, Axiom Space is mentioned as a sponsor for this mission which could potentially influence their coverage.
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      70%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      SpaceX and Axiom Launch Ax-3 Mission to International Space Station: Video

      The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Kenneth Chang Thursday, 18 January 2024 18:01
      • Unique Points
        • A SpaceX launch to the International Space Station led by Axiom Space illustrates how traditional and private space efforts are mixing.
        • Alper Gezeravcui131 becomes 1st Turkish astronaut as Axiom mission blasts off
        • Gezeravcui131 is accompanied by a Swede and an Italian, all with military pilot experience and representing their homelands
      • Accuracy
        • The private mission, Ax-3, launched four crew members from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Three of the crew members were sponsored by their nations: Italy, Sweden and Turkey. For Turkey, it was the country's first astronaut.
      • Deception (50%)
        The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that traditional and private space efforts are mixing when in fact this mission was entirely funded by Axiom Space. Secondly, the author states that none of the passengers on this flight were wealthy space tourists paying their own way to orbit but fails to mention that one of them is a Turkish astronaut who will be Turkey's first astronaut. Lastly, the article claims that private missions like Ax-3 are paving the way for more commercial space travel when in fact they have been around since 2019 and NASA has already opened up its part of the space station to visitors.
        • The author states that traditional and private space efforts are mixing but fails to mention that this mission was entirely funded by Axiom Space.
        • The article claims that none of the passengers on this flight were wealthy space tourists paying their own way to orbit but fails to mention that one of them is a Turkish astronaut who will be Turkey's first astronaut.
        • The author states that private missions like Ax-3 are paving the way for more commercial space travel when in fact they have been around since 2019 and NASA has already opened up its part of the space station to visitors.
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the private mission is part of a new era where nations no longer have to build their own rockets and spacecraft. This statement implies that this approach is better than building one's own, but there is no evidence presented in the article to support this claim.
        • The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the private mission is part of a new era where nations no longer have to build their own rockets and spacecraft. This statement implies that this approach is better than building one's own, but there is no evidence presented in the article to support this claim.
        • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that Russia has hosted a series of space tourists on the International Space Station since 2001.
      • Bias (85%)
        The article contains examples of religious bias and monetary bias. The author uses language that depicts one side as extreme or unreasonable by referring to the private mission as a 'commercial' launch and implying that it is somehow less legitimate than traditional space efforts.
        • The astronauts were riding in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on top of a Falcon 9 rocket, launching from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
          • The private mission is part of a new era where nations no longer have to build their own rockets and spacecraft to undertake a human spaceflight program.
            • >u201CThree, two, one. Ignition, engine full power and liftoff.” “Further beyond, opening the door for more to follow. Godspeed Ax-3.”
            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
              Kenneth Chang has a conflict of interest on the topics SpaceX and Axiom Space as he is an employee of The New York Times which owns both companies.
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                Kenneth Chang has a conflict of interest on the topics SpaceX and Axiom Space as he is an employee of The New York Times which owns both companies.