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> They are just paying for seats with Axiom directly rather than bartering for seats with NASA. To be fair to those countries, it's typically ESA that barters
by nordsieck 3y ago
> They are just paying for seats with Axiom directly rather than bartering for seats with NASA.
To be fair to those countries, it's typically ESA that barters with NASA, not the individual member countries. And it seems like astronauts are selected in rough proportion to national contribution (generally in line with the National Return policy).
Paying for a private seat may be a more efficient way for smaller countries to get people into space.
- dmurray 3y agoIs Turkey even an ESA member? I don't think it's clear they'd be welcomed. This seems like a sensible way for them to dip their toes into having a space program.
- mrtksn 3y agoThe Turkish one is essentially for propaganda, being "the first Turk in space" right before the elections(although he is supposed to run some experiments for the Turkish Universities). It's still nice though, maybe will inspire some kids to pursue careers in science but there's an ongoing debate in Turkey if he is just a space tourist(it's complicated). A fun thing is, He is from the secular demographic and his firsts words were to commemorate Ataturk and the islamists and seculars instantly switched place; Now the pro-government people say He is a space tourist and the secular opposition says he is a hero :)
- atahanacar 3y ago>He is from the secular demographic This is an understatement. He was purged from the military and jailed by Islamists/Gülenists/Erdoğan using fabricated evidence and cultist judges, for "attempting a secularist coup". I don't think it is "essentially" for propaganda. This would happen regardless, propaganda is just a side-benefit. Saying that he's "just a space tourist" would be like calling scientists that go to Antarctica for experiments "polar tourists". It is definitely overblown by the government media though.