Brazil's First Astronaut Shares Life Story at Congress in Antalya
Marcos Pontes, the first Brazilian to go to space, shared his journey from poverty to his space adventure with participants at an event in Antalya.
Marcos Pontes, Brazil's first astronaut, shared his memories of space travel and his inspiring life story at the International Space Congress held in Antalya.
The Process of Becoming an Astronaut
Pontes, who was previously a test pilot and aerospace engineer in the Air Force, explained that NASA was selecting astronauts during the period when Brazil joined the International Space Station program.
Participating in the NASA selection process for a single quota, Pontes stated that he joined the astronaut class in 1998 and received rigorous training in Houston for two years.
Space Travel and Missions
He stated that while planning a flight within the scope of the US Space Shuttle Program, he was directed to Russia due to the Columbia accident that occurred in 2003.
Pontes recounted that he went into space aboard the Soyuz TMA-8 spacecraft in 2006 and installed a part of the communication system of the International Space Station.
A Life Reaching from Poverty to Space
Stating that he comes from a poor family and started working as an apprentice electrician in the railway system at the age of 14, Pontes said he put in great effort.
Expressing that he entered the Air Force by successfully passing the exams and was selected for pilot training, Pontes called on young people not to pay attention to negative remarks.
Space Experiences and Impressions of Antalya
Sharing the moment of the rocket launch and his space experiences, Pontes described the moment when his gloves floated in the air with the feeling of realizing his dreams.
He added that this was his first time in Antalya and that the congress offered an important opportunity to closely observe the work of countries and companies.