The 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition Launch and Delivery Ceremony of the National Technologies to be used in the National Antarctic Science Expedition was attended by Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Ankara Governor Vasip Şahin, President of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Director of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center Polar Research Institute (MAM-KARE) and Expedition Coordinator Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, Director of TÜBİTAK SAGE Gürcan Okumuş, Chairman of the Board and General Manager of ASELSAN Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, General Manager of HAVELSAN Dr. Mehmet Akif Accu, General Manager of HAVELSAN and TÜRKSAT General Manager Dr. Mehmet Akif Accu. Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, TÜBİTAK SAGE Director Gürcan Okumuş, ASELSAN Chairman of the Board and General Manager Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, HAVELSAN General Manager Dr. Mehmet Akif Acar and TÜRKSAT Satellite Services Deputy General Manager Dr. Selman Demirel.

"Our goal is to gain "Consultant Country" status in the Antarctic Treaty, fly our flag there and have a say in the future of the white continent"

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank pointed out that efforts are being made to build a great and strong Turkey in many areas from defense industry to digital technologies, from electric vehicles to space studies. Minister Varank said, "Polar research is one of the important activities we carry out with this vision."

Varank said, "Our goal is to gain the status of "Consultant Country" in the Antarctic Agreement, to fly our flag there and to have a say in the future of the white continent."

Reminding that five science expeditions have been organized to the continent since 2017, Minister Varank noted that a team of 20 people will embark on the sixth expedition on January 22. Varank said, "I am aware that this is a very exciting process for those who are devoted to polar sciences. Believe me, I am at least as excited as you are." He also stated that he would like to participate in the polar expedition and wished, "I hope it will be possible to go on an expedition after the Ministry."

"I am proud that our country is at the forefront of polar studies"

Pointing out that the poles are very important areas that shed light on the past and present of the world as a natural laboratory, Minister Varank said: "Every discovery to be made here is very valuable in understanding nature, living things and the earth. The solution to many problems, especially climate change, is actually hidden here. "Therefore, I am proud that our country is at the forefront of these studies that may have consequences for the whole world."

Stating that the team will make a difficult journey of about one and a half months, Varank said, "This is what the love of science actually looks like! To risk all kinds of difficulties, to leave their families and to make new discoveries on behalf of our country and humanity. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them once again from the bottom of my heart and wish them to return home safely and to achieve very successful results."

"Just as we send off our polar explorers on expeditions today, we will send off our astronauts to space in the very near future"

Minister Varank said, "Just as we are sending off our polar explorers on expeditions today, we will send off our astronauts to space in the very near future. We wholeheartedly believe in this." he emphasized.

Pointing out that detailed research will be carried out within the scope of 14 projects carried out in the fields of Earth Sciences, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences during the expedition, Minister Varank emphasized that the projects will be carried out in cooperation with 29 institutions.

"Our international collaborations also show how far we have come in the polar exploration we have just started"

Underlining the international cooperation, Minister Varank said: "Two foreign researchers, one from Portugal and one from Bulgaria, were included in the team. Our 2 Turkish researchers are already working at a station belonging to South Korea. This situation actually shows how far we have come in polar research, which we have just started."

"We offer many technological products developed in the spirit of the National Technology Move and with domestic facilities to the service of the expedition team for testing"

Varank said, "We are offering many technological products developed in the spirit of the National Technology Move and with domestic facilities to the expedition team for testing. I personally find this step very valuable for the future of polar studies and many other scientific research projects." Varank emphasized the importance of the expedition.

Pointing out that the work in the poles takes place under very harsh weather conditions, Minister Varank said: "For this reason, the competence of the machinery and equipment to be used here is very important both in terms of the safety of the team and the quality of the work. Therefore, if you are dependent on foreign sources for this machinery and equipment, the sustainability of your work is at great risk. There will be a huge cost when you constantly buy them from abroad. More importantly, the places from which you procure these technological products can very easily terminate their supply to you. Polar research has great potential both in terms of the economic value it can generate and in terms of prestige. Therefore, there is intense international competition here. You cannot guarantee that your competitors who see that your work has reached a certain stage will not resort to such a way to disrupt it."

"We will produce the high-tech machinery and equipment that our teams will use in these expeditions with domestic and national facilities"

"We are blending our polar studies with our national technology vision in order to strengthen our country's claim of 'I am also in this field'. We include polar studies in the steps we take with the aim of making our country a producer of critical technologies, not a market." Varank said, "We have developed important collaborations with the star institutions of our satellite, communication, aviation and defense industry. Thus, we will produce the high-tech machinery and equipment that our teams will use in these expeditions with domestic and national facilities."

Varank noted that this effect will not be limited to polar studies and will spread to many other fields, especially the defense industry and information-communication technologies. Finally, Minister Varank shared the details by stating that very important products and services developed by 5 valuable institutions will accompany the team this time.

"TÜBİTAK has been carrying out activities for a long time to ensure that Turkey has a say in the future of Antarctica and the Arctic and in the protection of the poles"

In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President of TÜBİTAK, emphasized that climate change and environmental problems have been affecting the world and Turkey more in recent years, and 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 structure. Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that as TÜBİTAK, they produce solutions to these complex, dynamic and variable problems with the understanding of "working together, developing together and achieving together", which enables different disciplines to work together.

Stating that TÜBİTAK has been carrying out activities for a long time in order for Turkey to have a say in the future of Antarctica and the Arctic and in the protection of the poles, Mandal reminded that Turkey organized the first national science expedition to Antarctica in 2017 under the auspices of the Presidency and the Ministry of Industry and Technology in order to be among the leading countries in scientific research and technology production. Stating that in 2019, with the establishment of TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center Polar Research Institute (MAM KARE), studies in the polar regions gained a different dimension, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal said, "With the establishment of TÜBİTAK MAM KARE, we started to coordinate our science expeditions to the polar regions in line with the National Polar Science Program together with our Ministry of Industry and Technology."

"Thermal batteries developed with domestic and national facilities have eliminated foreign dependency in our defense industry"

While mentioning the importance of the expedition, which will be held for the sixth time on January 22nd, Prof. Dr. Mandal emphasized that different institutions and organizations of our country are supporting the expedition with national products. Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that "thermal batteries", which are among these products and developed by TÜBİTAK with domestic and national facilities, eliminate foreign dependency in our defense industry. Stating that the thermal batteries developed by TÜBİTAK Defense Industry Research and Development Institute (SAGE) will provide many advantages when used in the Science Expedition, Mandal said, "Thanks to the heat energy to be obtained from these batteries, the need for heating and liquid water that the research team will need in emergencies can be met."

Pointing out that thermal batteries differ from their alternatives with features such as long shelf life, maintenance-free, providing high energy in short periods of time, fast triggering, non-self-depletion, high reliability, wide operating temperature range and resistance to harsh environmental conditions, Mandal said: "Thermal batteries, which can provide the expected performance even at -90 degrees Celsius, will fulfill their mission without any problems in the extremely cold climate conditions of Antarctica, where other battery technologies cannot work, especially in emergencies." Emphasizing that the thermal batteries, which can be stored in Antarctic conditions for more than 20 years with their long shelf life, can maintain their initial energy level even after 20 years without any maintenance needs, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Mandal said that all the work they have done in this field shows that Turkey has turned into a country that produces and develops these technologies with its own resources, rather than a country that follows technological developments.

Underlining that as TÜBİTAK, they aim to create qualified human resources to carry out studies in this field as well as developing and producing these technologies, Mandal said that for this purpose, they organized the "Polar Festival", Polar Sciences Workshops and supported the projects of young people in this field with the 2204-C High School Students Polar Research Projects Competition within the scope of TEKNOFEST.

Finally, Mandal thanked all the organizations that provide the critical technologies Turkey needs, Anadolu Agency, which will provide communication support for the Science Expedition, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, who have never withheld their support.

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, Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy, Director of TÜBİTAK MAM Polar Research Institute (KARE) and Expedition Coordinator, gave information about the expedition to be held between 22 January-3 March 2022. Underlining that the expedition will take place under COVID-19 measures, Özsoy shared the details of a total of 14 projects to be carried out in cooperation with 29 different institutions, seven of which are in the fields of Life Sciences, four in Earth Sciences and three in Physical Sciences.

Touching on foreign collaborations, Prof. Dr. Özsoy said, "2 Turkish researchers are continuing their studies at the King Sejong Antarctic Station of South Korea, and one researcher each from Bulgaria and Portugal will work with us in the Sixth National Antarctic Science Expedition."

TUBITAK SAGE thermal batteries will contribute in harsh conditions

"Our thermal battery, whose design, development and production capabilities are fully owned by SAGE, is on its way to take part in the 6th National Antarctic Science Expedition in the polar region, where harsh environmental conditions prevail." said Gürcan Okumuş, Director of TÜBİTAK Defence Industry Research and Development Institute (SAGE), and emphasized the features of high-tech thermal batteries, which are developed and produced locally and nationally by Turkish engineers, such as advanced reliability, shelf life of at least 25 years, maintenance-free and fast triggering.

Okumuş said, "Batteries, which are an alternative power source with their ability to operate at full capacity at extremely low temperatures such as -90°C, will be ready for use in case of urgent, fast and reliable electrical energy needs in Antarctica, the coldest point of the world and known for its harsh climatic conditions, and will contribute to scientific research and development."

Radio support from ASELSAN to Antarctica team

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

Stating that ASELSAN sent radio and modular mobile repeater radio systems to Antarctica for testing and use, Görgün said that the communication products developed with domestic and national facilities and tested under the most challenging conditions will be the reliable supporters of scientists in a very challenging field. Pointing out that ASELSAN's 3700 handheld radios, of which they sent 15 units to Antarctica, are among the most successful communication products in their class, Görgün said: "Our radios will be the life companions of our teams in the harsh environment of the poles by adding a new one to their success in many challenging environments around the world."

Görgün added that the "Portable Hybrid Power Support Unit", which generates energy with highly efficient solar panels for the uninterrupted operation of the systems and can be installed by two people, will provide energy support to scientists in Antarctica, where there is no electricity infrastructure.

HAVELSAN introduces GNSS receiver

Mehmet Akif Nacar, General Manager of HAVELSAN, reminded that they had 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 the HAVELSAN GNSS receiver uses satellites of many different countries such as GPS, Galileo, Beidu, Glonass, Glonass and QZSS to calculate location and provides global coverage, Nacar said: "HAVELSAN GNSS receiver offers uninterrupted operating performance with real-time location, speed and time information."

Minister Varank delivered the products to the expedition team

After the speeches, Minister Varank handed over the products to the expedition coordinator Prof. Dr. Burcu Özsoy and said, "Developing these technologies and being able to test them in the field gives our institutions a great advantage. Today, you know what a difference it makes when you bring tested products to the market. I attach great importance to our companies testing their products. ASELSAN, HAVELSAN and SAGE will carry out one of the most difficult tests in Antarctica. Hopefully, if we can establish a permanent base, we will go there and test together."