The Presentation and Delivery Ceremony of National Technologies to be Used in the 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition was held at TÜBİTAK Feza Gürsey Conference Hall.

Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank, Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, President of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center Polar Research Institute (MAM-KARE) Director and Expedition Coordinator Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, TÜBİTAK SAGE Manager Gürcan Okumuş, ASELSAN Chairman and General Manager Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, HAVELSAN General Manager Dr. Mehmet Akif Acar and TÜRKSAT Satellite Services Deputy General Manager Dr. Selman Demirel attended.

Speaking at the ceremony, Varank said, “Our goal is to gain ‘Consultant Country’ status in the Antarctic Agreement, to wave our flag there and to have a say in the future of the White Continent.”.

Reminding that five scientific expeditions have been organized to the Continent since 2017, Varank noted that on January 22, a sixth expedition will be launched with a team of 20 people.

“Working Together, Developing Together and Succeeding Together”

Making the opening speech, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, emphasizing that climate change and environmental problems have affected the world and Turkey more in recent years, mentioned that it is impossible to solve these problems with a single discipline and a single point of view due to their complex, dynamic and variable nature.

Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that as TÜBİTAK, they produce solutions to complex, dynamic and variable problems with the understanding of “working together, developing together and achieving together”, which allows different disciplines to work together.

“Thermal Batteries Eliminated External Dependency”

Prof. Dr. Mandal also mentioned the importance of the sixth expedition, which will be held on January 22, and emphasized that different institutions and organizations of Turkey support the expedition with national products.

Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that thermal batteries, which are among these products and developed by TUBITAK with domestic and national resources, eliminate foreign dependency in the defense industry.

Mandal stated that the thermal batteries developed by the TÜBİTAK Defense Industry Research and Development Institute (SAGE) will provide many advantages. Mandal said, “Thanks to the heat energy to be obtained from these batteries, the heating and liquid water needs of the research team in emergencies will be met.”.

Expedition Coordinator Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy Shared Details About the Expedition

Sharing the details of the expedition with the 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition Presentation, TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute (KARE) Director and Expedition Coordinator Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy gave information about the expedition to be carried out between January 22 and March 3, 2022.

Emphasizing that the expedition will take place under COVID-19 measures, Özsoy shared the details of a total of 14 projects, which will be carried out with the cooperation of 29 different institutions, seven in the field of life sciences, four in the field of earth sciences and three in the field of physical sciences.

Touching on foreign collaborations, Prof. Dr. Özsoy said, “Two Turkish researchers continue their work at the King Sejong Antarctic Station of South Korea, and one researcher from Bulgaria and Portugal will take part with us in the Sixth National Antarctic Science Expedition.”.

Radio Support from ASELSAN to the Antarctic Team 

ASELSAN Chairman of the Board and General Manager Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, on behalf of Turkey, said that they follow the works carried out in Antarctica under the leadership of TÜBİTAK with great excitement, curiosity and pride.

Stating that as ASELSAN, they have sent Radio and Modular Mobile Repeater Radio systems to Antarctica for testing and use, Görgün noted that communication products tested under the most challenging conditions will be reliable supporters of scientists in a very challenging field.

Görgün pointed out that the 3700 handheld radios, which they sent to Antarctica with 15 design awards, are among the most successful communication products of ASELSAN in its class. Görgün said “Our radios will add a new one to their success in many challenging environments in the world, and will be the companions of our teams in the harsh environment of the arctic.”.

Görgün added that the “Portable Hybrid Power Support Unit”, which produces energy with high-efficiency solar panels and can be installed by two people, will provide energy support to scientists in Antarctica, where there is no electricity infrastructure.

HAVELSAN Introduced GNSS Receiver

HAVELSAN General Manager Mehmet Akif Nacar also reminded that they held the first meetings with TÜBİTAK MAM KARE officials at TEKNOFEST 2021 and underlined that they developed the HAVELSAN GNSS receiver in a short period of 4 months and that it will be used for the first time in the national polar expedition in Antarctica.

Stating that HAVELSAN GNSS receiver calculates location and provides global coverage by using satellites of many different countries such as GPS, Galileo, Beidu, Glonass, QZSS, Nacar said, “HAVELSAN GNSS receiver offers uninterrupted working performance with real-time location, speed and time information.”.